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Sunday, February 11, 2001
Heard around All-Star weekend
SportsTicker
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DENVER -- From Bettman to Sakic, a collection of quotes heard around and about All-Star weekend:
Pittsburgh Penguins center Mario Lemieux, on
whether he feels responsible for selling hockey around the
world:
| | | Lemieux |
"I think it is all our responsibilities. But I certainly
understand that I have to do my share and I am willing to do
this at this stage of my career. I feel comfortable doing it."
Dallas Stars right wing Brett Hull, on how playing at the
Olympics compares to winning the Stanley Cup:
"It doesn't. All we've ever dreamed of since we were kids is
winning the Stanley Cup."
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, on speculation the Montreal
Canadiens might move now that they have been sold to American
businessman George Gillett Jr.:
"The Canadiens, if they are not in Montreal, are not the
Canadiens. And any discussions, speculation, rumor or the like,
that somehow its geographic location is in jeopardy is simply
without foundation. That franchise, I repeatedly said, is not
going anywhere."
Bettman, on the format that will be used at next year's All-Star
Game in advance of the Salt Lake City Olympics:
"It is safe to assume we are not going to do East-West next
year. We may keep this format or if we can come up with
something a little more exotic that is workable, we may consider
doing that. ... If there is a better mousetrap out there, we are
prepared to consider it."
| | | Kovalev |
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Alexei Kovalev on his boss and
teammate, Mario Lemieux:
"I always thought of an owner as being in his 40s or 50s. With
Mario, I always thought of him as a player."
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ed Jovanovski, on Lemieux's
comeback:
"I do watch a lot of hockey and every time I turn the TV on,
I'll miss the first period and he already has two or three
points. I'm always waiting around to see the highlights. I
think it's a great boost for the NHL. They're selling out every
rink he goes to. Attendance is picking up. That's what it's
all about."
Philadelphia Flyers center Simon Gagne, who grew up a Quebec
Nordiques fan, on how he felt when the team moved to Colorado:
"I was very, very (ticked) off. It was a shock. You just lost
your team. They tried to bring a minor league team to Quebec,
but they get only 4,000 people a night."
| | | Nabokov |
San Jose Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, a native of
Kazakhstan, on mastering English:
"I studied English in school and I thought I knew it. When I
came over here and you guys (in the media) talked so fast, I
realized I knew nothing. I couldn't catch any of it."
Detroit Red Wings center Sergei Fedorov, on his relationship
with coach Scotty Bowman:
"I always feel comfortable with Scotty. I never feel
uncomfortable with him because he's a great coach. He sees
things we don't see and obviously he has plans for all of us."
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ray Bourque, on whether he ever
imagined playing in 19 All-Star Games:
"You come in, you try to establish yourself as a solid NHL
player. Years go by and you keep coming here. It's really
surprising in some ways. You never take anything for granted
and you always have something to prove."
| | | Audette |
Atlanta Thrashers right wing Donald Audette, who is eligible for
unrestricted free agency at the end of the season:
"In the future, things will happen if things keep happening on
the ice. I'm trying to make things happen in Atlanta. They've
got a good future, a good young team. (Free agency) is still
far away."
Avalanche center Joe Sakic, on his chances of winning the Hart
Trophy as NHL most valuable player:
"I haven't given much thought to it. Things have gone well for
our hockey club and myself. A lot of credit has to go to my
wingers, Milan (Hejduk) and Alex (Tanguay). It's been a
pleasure playing with two great, young players who can score and
move the puck."
Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils, on what goaltenders
talk about when they get together at an event like All-Star
weekend:
"We talk about equipment -- how come you're using this, how come
you're using that."
Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Sean Burke, on making his first
All-Star appearance in 12 years:
"Every year, my wife asks what are we going to do for the
All-Star break and I'd say to her in October, don't do anything,
don't make plans, I'm going to be playing there. It was a
running joke for 10 years."
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