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Saturday, February 3, 2001
Gretzky: Olympics shouldn't stop All-Star Game
Associated Press
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DENVER -- A suggestion by U.S. coach Herb Brooks that the
NHL scrap the 2002 All-Star Game to allow players more time to
practice for the Olympics met with a dissenting voice on Friday.
Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, now an official of the Canadian
Hockey Association, said flatly the idea is "not going to happen."
|  | | Wayne Gretzky doesn't see how Mario Lemieux will not be a member of the 2002 Canadian Olympic team. |
Gretzky called the All-Star Game "something special" and said
it should go on as scheduled in Los Angeles next year.
"We all want an opportunity to get together," Gretzky said,
"so I can understand where Herb is coming from. But I don't think
there's any way it gets bumped. Although the Olympics are big, the
NHL All-Star Game is something that we're all very devoted to.
"So that's really something that's not going to happen, and I
don't see that taking place."
Gretzky added, "I think we're all in agreement that we'd like
to somehow get four, five or six days together."
Next year's All-Star Game is scheduled for Feb. 2. The Olympics
begin Feb. 8.
U.S. general manager Craig Patrick said the American team will
be in Salt Lake City only 12 days.
"It's a shorter period of time," he said. "We won't get that
much practice time prior to our first game. So, in terms of
preparation, we're agonizing over how we're going to achieve it,
but we'll find a way to get it done."
Patrick said he and other U.S. team officials haven't discussed
Brooks' comment.
"Actually, I was informed of that as I walked in here this
evening," Patrick said at a news conference. "I didn't read the
paper today, so I wasn't aware of it. It's kind of amusing. We
really haven't discussed that at all."
Officials of both the U.S. and Canadian teams used this
weekend's NHL All-Star festivities as a chance to hold meetings and
discuss assembling their respective teams.
Each team must select eight of its 23 players by March 25. U.S.
officials said they likely will wait until the deadline to name
their first eight, while Gretzky said Canada probably will name its
first group earlier.
Doug Palazzari, executive of USA Hockey, said officials don't
condone the conduct of members of the 1998 U.S. team, some of whom
were accused of vandalizing their rooms.
"What happened in Nagano was a pretty disappointing and
embarrassing situation," Palazzari said. "While embarrassing and
unfortunate, it's over. Maybe it got blown a little bit out of
proportion. We have no doubt that our team will behave in the
manner that they generally do. It's history as far as we're
concerned."
American officials refused to get into details about the players
being considered for the team.
Associate general manager Larry Pleau said officials will first
look "at the best players but at the same time look at players who
can do certain roles for you at the end of your lineup."
Canada's delegation was more forthright, with Gretzky saying he
and the Canadian coaches are looking for "speed, grit and
character."
Gretzky said Canadian officials put together an initial list of
40 prospects for the team and have pared the list to 13 or 14 for
the first selections.
Gretzky said he couldn't envision Mario Lemieux not being on the
Canadian squad. Lemieux, owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, came out
of retirement five weeks ago.
"We haven't talked to any players about the Olympics at this
point," Gretzky said. "We've kept our conversations in house. But
I think it's pretty safe to say that he's on the list."
Canada was a disappointment in the 1998 Olympics, finishing
fourth.
"Canada lives and dies with the game of hockey. We understand
the pressures that lie with that," Gretzky said. "It's also the
greatest thing in the world to be under that pressure. It's
something we thrive on. It's not a reason or excuse not to win."
Gretzky also said Friday that his purchase of the Phoenix
Coyotes in tandem with Phoenix developer Steve Ellman will be
completed by the Feb. 15 deadline -- but not during All-Star
weekend.
"That would have been really nice," he said, "but it is going
to happen."
Pressed, he responded that "all I can say is that it's close,
and it's going to get done."
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ALSO SEE
In the Corners at the All-Star Game
2001 NHL All-Star Game coverage
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