Yzerman out of World Cup, Gretzky picks Lecavalier to replace him

[yudansha]

"the interest isn't as great as it used to be"

Yes, it's very disappointing. It used to be that the whole country was pulling for the team, but now, it seems like only hockey fans are there for support. Kind of sad ... the same thing I noticed with Olympics...

Those were great quotes - coming from the great one himself!

 

[Littledragon]

Is Wayne Gretzky still playing Hockey? I thought he retired?

 

[yudansha]

"Is Wayne Gretzky still playing Hockey? I thought he retired?"

He probably does play hockey ... but not in a professional league. He owns an NHL team and is one of the heads of the Canadian team.

 

[Littledragon]

He probably does play hockey ... but not in a professional league. He owns an NHL team and is one of the heads of the Canadian team.

Ok. I am not that much of a Hockey fan at all.

 

[yudansha]

"I am not that much of a Hockey fan at all."

No problem, Littledragon.

There are sports I might not be fan of but I like the Olympics as I just love rooting for our home teams! It's a great feeling when they get that gold. (even w/o the interference of some French judges )

 

[Littledragon]

No problem, Littledragon.

There are sports I might not be fan of but I like the Olympics as I just love rooting for our home teams! It's a great feeling when they get that gold. (even w/o the interference of some French judges )

Do you like soccer?

 

[yudansha]

Yep, I like soccer ... but not as much as hockey!!!

LOL didn't you see all my soccer posts?

 

[Littledragon]

LOL didn't you see all my soccer posts?

Yes I did, just making sure..

 

[yudansha]

Fedorov, Zhamnov and Bure off Russia's team; Gill replaces Schneider for U.S.

What are they thinking?

(CP) - Star centre Sergei Fedorov and forwards Alexei Zhamnov and Valeri Bure have notified Russia's team that they won't play in the World Cup of Hockey.

The U.S. team has had to make another change, too, naming Hal Gill to replace Mathieu Schneider on defence. Players on many of the eight teams entered have been pulling out as harried managers prepare to open camps late next week for the biggest hockey tournament outside of the Olympics.

Fedorov didn't feel he was up to playing, agent Pat Brisson said from Santa Monica, Calif.

"He's nursing a few minor injuries - nothing major but he's not 100 per cent," said Brisson. "He skated in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago and he didn't feel quite ready.

"He's a little disappointed because he hasn't played in a while now."

Fedorov, 34, who helped the Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup three times before jumping to Anaheim, missed the playoffs with the Mighty Ducks last spring. He was being counted on to be a leader on the Russian team for the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 World Cup.

His withdrawal, along with those of Zhamnov, Bure and earlier no-goes, sends the Russians reeling.

Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin of the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier declined to play for them, and goalie Evgeni Nabokov of the San Jose Sharks is said to be unfit after arthroscopic knee surgery.

Defenceman Alexei Zhitnik's agent said earlier this week his client won't show up because he's an unrestricted free agent and applicable insurance coverage hasn't been obtained.

Bure and Zhamnov, both UFAs, are in the same boat.

Replacements for Fedorov, Bure, Zhamnov and Zhitnik have yet to be named.

Meanwhile, in Colorado Springs, Colo., the U.S. team announced that Schneider "will be unable to participate due to his current contract status."

He's another UFA with insurance hangups.

The World Cup is a joint venture between the NHL and the NHL Players' Association. While signed players are offered insurance covering the total value of their contracts, unsigned players are only offered insurance coverage for two years of projected earnings.

Gill takes Schneider's place. Gill was on the American team for the 2000, 2001 and 2004 IIHF world championships so he has plenty of international experience.

"We are disappointed that Mathieu will be unable to participate but, at the same time, excited to add Hal's unique skills, physical presence on defence and recent international experience to our lineup," said Larry Pleau, the St. Louis Blues GM who is filling the same role with the U.S. side.

The Americans previously replaced Philadelphia star Jeremy Roenick, who is taking time to fully recuperate from a series of concussions, with New Jersey centre Scott Gomez.

Canada replaced Steve Yzerman (Vincent Lecavalier), Rob Blake (Scott Hannan) and Ed Belfour (Jose Theodore), all of whom cited injury problems for withdrawing after being named in May.

The Czech Republic replaced Red Wings forward Robert Lang (Petr Sykora) and lost Tampa Bay defenceman Pavel Kubina (no replacement named).

Finland had to sub for the Flyers' Sami Kapanen (Niklas Hagman) and Finnish league veteran Jere Karalahti (Janne Niinimaa).

Exhibition games begin in 10 days.

Canada, the U.S., Russia and Slovakia are in the North American Pool which will play preliminary games in Toronto, Montreal and St. Paul, Minn.

European pool teams Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic and Germany play their preliminary round games in Europe.

Playoff games will be in Toronto and St. Paul. The final is scheduled for Sept. 14 in Toronto.

NEIL STEVENS; © The Canadian Press, 2004

 

[Serena]

I think this is outrageous! To wait until the last second for all these pull-outs is very unprofessional--and very unsportsmanlike. The World Cup of Hockey may not stand much of a chance in the future with disinterest such as this.

Thanks for the update, yudansha.

 

[yudansha]

Serena you are absolutely correct!!!

First of all, you are welcome for the article.
And second, I think (like you said) that this lack of interest will not do much good in the long run. And I am very ... what's the word? ... ok since there are children here ... 'ticked' off about who they actually pulled off. It's like they don't want to win or something ...

 

[yudansha]

Canada's Big Line features Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau

OTTAWA (CP) - Scott Hannan was in an unenviable position.

There was big Joe Thornton barrelling down on a 2-on-1 drill Saturday with power forward Dany Heatley at his side, Hannan alone to defend the star-studded duo.

So the San Jose Sharks blue-liner did what he could, wrapping his arms around Thornton and hanging on while the puck bounced away.

If there's a forward line that might strike the fear of God in the opposition during the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 World Cup of Hockey, it's definitely Thornton centring Heatley and Patrick Marleau, a combination of size and skill that a coach could only dream of having at his disposal in the NHL.

"Heater and Patty are both big players, and it's always fun playing with the bigger guys," Thornton said Saturday after practice. "I've seen Dany carry guys on his back. So it's going to be fun watching these two linemates of mine carry the puck and carry the play."

At 6-2 and 210 pounds, Marleau is usually the big man on his line in San Jose. But next to the 6-3, 215-pound Heatley and the 6-4, 225-pound Thornton, Marleau has to look up to his new linemates.

"I was thinking just that the other day in practice, they're both a little bit taller than me, that's for sure," Marleau, 24, said after Canada wrapped up its second practice of training camp at the University of Ottawa hockey rink.

"To get a chance to play with them is just amazing," Marleau added. "We're feeling each other out right now, trying to get some chemistry going."

Because only 10 of 23 players are back from the 2002 Olympic champions, Team Canada head coach Pat Quinn has had to come up with some new combinations at forward but that's not to say Thornton, Marleau and Heatley have no prior history.

Marleau is the common link, having played alongside Thornton at the 2001 world hockey championship in Hannover, Germany, and at Heatley's side when Canada captured gold at the 2003 world championship in Helsinki.

And in both cases, Marleau, a natural centre, shifted to wing, just as he is right now.

"I've played wing in the past before, so it's not a big deal," shrugged Marleau, a native of Aneroid, Sask.

Quinn liked what he saw from the line after two days.

"They can call skate and they have all great size," said the Toronto Maple Leafs coach. "We think they can be a strong offensive zone line."

In other words, Quinn hopes the line will wear down the opposition defence and cycle the puck in the offensive zone, leading to scoring chances.

"We're all big and we can all skate," Heatley said. "We all like to play the body and be tough and strong down low."

All three forwards missed out on Salt Lake City, Marleau having not yet broken through as a star centre, Heatley just a rookie in Atlanta, while Thornton, well, that's another story.

The first overall pick by Boston in 1997 was deeply disappointed he wasn't picked to play in the Olympics, a situation that was exacerbated by the knowledge that he was the guy executive director Wayne Gretzky would have called if there had been an injury leading up to the February 2002 Games. But in the end not a single forward begged off, leaving Thornton at home and stewing.

Asked about it Saturday, the savvy Thornton stayed away from revisiting old wounds.

"Canada won the gold and that was a good thing. That's all I really remember," he said with a smirk.

This time around, the 25-year-old native of St. Thomas, Ont., was no-brainer when the team was announced May 15. And so was Heatley.

The 23-year-old Calgary native delivered a dominating and memorable performance in leading Canada to IIHF world championship gold this spring in Prague, his overtime goal in the quarter-finals against Finland the stuff of legends.

His play in Prague -he was named tournament MVP -answered any lingering doubts that he was back in full form after missing most of last season recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in the much-documented car crash last fall that claimed the life of friend and teammate Dan Snyder. Heatley heads to court in Atlanta two days after the World Cup tournament ends, facing charges of vehicular homicide.

But for now the focus is on hockey, and Heatley is flying in camp after two days, looking very much at ease on the big line with Thornton and Marleau.

"It's been a blast the last two days," Heatley said of playing with his new linemates.

The only thing the line doesn't have yet is a nickname.

"That's up to you guys, isn't it?," smiled Heatley.

PIERRE LEBRUN; © The Canadian Press, 2004

 

[yudansha]

Gretzky ready for challenge as Canada tries to stay on top of the world

OTTAWA (CP) - Wayne Gretzky walked by reporters in the Team Canada dressing room and quipped: "Back in the fire again."

The Great One need not worry. While Monday night's 3-1 loss in Columbus, Ohio, to the rival Americans in the first of three World Cup of Hockey exhibition games was unimpressive to say the least, it pales in comparison to 5-2 drubbing by Sweden in the Olympic opener in February 2002.

At least this edition of Team Canada still has two other pre-tournament games to get its act together, including Wednesday's rematch with the Americans at the Corel Centre.

That wasn't the case in Salt Lake City, where Canada struggled to beat Germany 3-2 in its second Olympic outing before showing promise in a 2-2 tie with the Czech Republic. It was that night that Gretzky, sensing a need to shelter his battered players, took the podium and declared his famous 'Us against the World' speech.

It was a critical moment in a gold medal journey that would culminate in Canada's 5-2 win over the U.S., ending a 50-year Olympic drought for the country that invented the game.

And throughout the bumpy road to gold, Gretzky put himself front and centre, ready to accept the blame of a hockey-crazed nation if the players he had assembled didn't deliver.

Many would have walked away from the cauldron after Salt Lake, leaving on top. But Gretzky couldn't resist reclaiming his job as Team Canada's executive director, once again putting himself in the line of fire for his player selection -and ultimately their play in the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 World Cup.

It's a lot of pressure for what amounts to a volunteer job, but Gretzky relishes it.

"I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world," he said this week. "I think to represent your country is one of the greatest honours that you can ever have. Since first representing Canada back in '77 (world juniors), I've genuinely loved being part of it."

He's no stranger to international hockey, and he's delivered. He was the leading scorer in six of the eight international tournaments he played in, including the 1982 IIHF world championship and the '84, '87 and '91 Canada Cups.

But now his role has changed dramatically. He can't win games for Canada anymore, he can only hope the players he picked will deliver. Few will forget his emotional celebration after Joe Sakic put the game away in Salt Lake City with his breakaway goal on U.S. goalie Mike Richter, Gretzky jumping out of his seat and thrusting his fist into the air.

Now he's back for more, once again helped along by lieutenants Kevin Lowe and Steve Tambellini.

"For me, what's the greatest part of it, other than winning the games, is the unselfishness that this organization has as a staff, from (Hockey Canada president) Bob Nicholson, Steve and Kevin to the coaching staff to the captain to our players, there's a lot of pride in our dressing room," Gretzky said. "I mean, there's a lot of egos in our dressing room, but everyone puts that aside and works together.

"We try to make every decision the right one and we do make mistakes. But it's not from lack of effort."

Credit Nicholson for bringing Gretzky back into the Team Canada fold in 2001. After all, few Canadian hockey fans could digest Gretzky ending his international career by sitting at the end of the bench in Nagano without having participated in a penalty shootout Canada lost to the Czech Republic, a heart-breaking semifinal loss at the 1998 Winter Games.

Nicholson took a chance on putting the Olympic team in the hands of someone who, while regarded as the greatest player ever, had limited managerial experience.

It rates as one of Nicholson's best decisions since being named president of Hockey Canada in 1998.

"If it's not No. 1, I'm not sure what is," Nicholson said with a chuckle. "He just brings so much to it. He brings great leadership and so much other positive things. There have been some difficult decisions for me but this was easily the easiest one."

Nicholson has been amazed at how Gretzky has approached the job. Everyone has a voice and Gretzky listens.

"Everything that he does, he does it from a team approach," Nicholson said. "And that filters down to the coaches. Every decision that's made is made with everyone involved. And that starts with Wayne. It's really a team atmosphere and it just makes everyone buy into this quicker."

If Canada doesn't win the World Cup, there will be hell to pay. Gretzky will try to take the heat.

Again you wonder why he would bother, but maybe it's his way of staying connected to his native country, given that he's lived in California for 16 years and admits that his three sons -all American-born -actually cheer for the U.S. hockey team.

Just another chapter in one of Canada's greatest sporting stories.

PIERRE LEBRUN; © The Canadian Press, 2004

 

[yudansha]

Bertuzzi arrives in court, enters a not-guilty plea on assault charges

VANCOUVER (CP) - Hockey star Todd Bertuzzi walked straight past reporters with his wife Thursday morning as he arrived for a court hearing on his assault charge and went on to plead not-guilty to assault charges.

Bertuzzi, who has not appeared personally on the charge before, was also accompanied by lawyer. A handful of female fans was there to greet him, along with jostling reporters.

Bertuzzi was charged June 24 after Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore suffered a concussion and broken neck during a game March 8 between the rival teams vying to capture the top spot in their division.

Bertuzzi was suspended indefinitely by the NHL after the incident and missed 20 games. The Canucks struggled in the playoffs without Bertuzzi and were upset by the Calgary Flames in the first round.

The Vancouver Sun has applied to use recording devices and take photographs in court if Bertuzzi pleads not guilty and proceeds to a trial.

The newspaper's representatives have also asked, on behalf of CanWest Global TV affiliates, that the court allow television cameras in the courtroom.

© The Canadian Press, 2004

 

[yudansha]

Canada stacks line with Lemieux, Sakic, Iginla as team building continues

Finally, some good decisions are made!!

OTTAWA (CP) - Jarome Iginla and Joe Sakic found themselves with a new left winger on Thursday -Team Canada captain Mario Lemieux.

"It's a pretty good day waking up and practising with Mario and Joe," Iginla said after their first workout together at the Corel Centre. "They're two of the most exciting guys in the game, but that's part of the fun of playing for Team Canada. "There's so much skill here, all line combinations are pretty exciting."

The team is only halfway through training camp for the Aug. 30-Sept. 14 World Cup of Hockey, so it is only normal for the coaching staff to experiment with lines and defence pairings -including shifting the 38-year-old Lemieux from centre to left wing to reduce his defensive workload.

Lemieux, who has played on the wing before, including at the 2002 Olympics, was a force at centre between young wingers Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards in a 3-1 exhibition win over the United States on Wednesday night.

"We wanted to change our centre ice look a bit and the load the centre iceman has to play on a defensive basis down in the zone," said head coach Pat Quinn. "Mario was fine, but we thought we'd look at him on the wing to see if we can take some of that pressure away from him.

"It's an experiment. You hope it works."

The line is expected to see its first game action when Canada completes its pre-tournament exhibition schedule against Slovakia on Saturday night at the Corel Centre.

Since camp opened Friday, Sakic and Iginla have had Simon Gagne and then Patrick Marleau as their left winger. Now they have one of the greatest players of all-time, a six-time NHL scoring leader and three-time most valuable player.

Against the Americans, Lemieux's first game since Nov. 1 and since undergoing a major hip operation, he set up a power-play goal by Richards and was the decoy as Vincent Lecavalier scored on a 2-on-1.

He has no problem moving to the wing.

"I can play centre or left wing," he said. "Right wing is different, although I played it in 1987 with Wayne (Gretzky), which was fun. "But it doesn't matter at this level.

"They've made some changes to see if we can improve. I guess it won't be the end of it. From past experience at these tournaments, they change lines quite a bit, trying to find the right combinations."

Asked how his body felt after it's first game in nine months, Lemieux said "pretty good."

Quinn said the lineup had to be shuffled because some of the 26 players in camp will have to sit out for the Slovakia game, although he gave no indication who they would be.

Other lines Thursday had Richards at centre with St. Louis and Gagne; Marleau at centre with Ryan Smyth and Brenden Morrow; Lecavalier with Dany Heatley and Kris Draper, and Joe Thornton with Shane Doan and Kirk Maltby.

Putting together Lemieux's and Sakic's playmaking skills with a power winger and scorer in Iginla could be devastating for opposing checkers.

Quinn smiled at the thought of it. He also confirmed Lemieux would play on Saturday.

"You dream about those sorts of things," he said. "But you still have to get (room on the) ice and against the American team, we didn't get much ice.

"It may be different against the European teams, but certainly, if they get some ice or make themselves some ice, there's a lot of possibilities offensively."

The veteran Sakic, who opened the 2002 Olympics on a line with Lemieux before being put with Iginla and Gagne, took it as another challenge.

"Offensively, you just read off each other," the Colorado Avalanche star said. "We have a couple of days to get used to each other and hopefully, we can get it going for Saturday night."

BILL BEACON; © The Canadian Press, 2004