Wayne Gretzky, Team Canada's executive director, addressed the media in Torino on Tuesday.

Canada strong under
weight of expectations
By Rich Libero | NHL.com
Feb. 14, 2006

TORINO, Italy - Team Canada held its opening Olympic press conference in the same room and about 20 minutes after Team USA introduced itself. The Team USA press conference was well attended, but the occupancy of an ample meeting room soon swelled to bursting by ranks of photographers and television cameras.

Sure, Team Canada is popular. Sure Wayne Gretzky, Team Canada's executive director, has always packed 'em in, but combine the expectations of the defending gold medalists with Gretzky's recent events and you get a press conference on par with the Stanley Cup Finals ... or a retirement announcement.

Gretzky entered the room via a side door along with Hockey Canada President Bob Nicholson, head coach Pat Quinn, Assistant Executive Director Kevin Lowe and Director of Player Personnel Steve Tambellini. He advanced through a cordon of photographers, bathed in the light of flash bulbs.

In fact, the photographers were relentless throughout the press conference, snapping pictures from every possible angle, including one photographer who decided to lay on the floor in front of the dais.

For those of you who missed it, Gretzky's name has come up with some recent gambling allegations involving his assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes, Rick Tocchet. The events have been well-represented in the press, so we won't re-hash them here, but this press conference marked the first time that many in the hockey media had a chance to face Gretzky on a world stage.

Brad Pascall, Hockey Canada's director of communications, introduced the executive staff and requested that questions be focused on the Olympics. How could the media, which has often returned Gretzky's graciousness with the same courtesy, ask the questions they had to ask?

It didn't take long.

The first two questions asked: How will recent events affect Team Canada in the Olympics? Brilliant. The question addressed the burning need to know and also contained the word "Olympics".

And Gretzky, like the stand-up superstar that he's always been, came back blunt and honest: "I'm not involved. I called bob Nicholson seven days ago. I've said it for seven days. It's over and done with. My concern is to worry about playing hockey. The concern is all these athletes work their butts off to get to the Olympic Games. I said what I said a week ago, I'm not involved and quite frankly that's the last time I'm going to talk about it."

And then he applied some of his dry wit and professional experience: "If we don't win a gold medal, obviously I'll get blamed. But I've been blamed for losses before so it's not going to affect me and affect my life."

Questions addressed and down to the business of hockey.

According to Gretzky, Team Canada finds itself in "uncharted waters". In 2002, Team Canada faced its usual burden of expectation, but this time Canada didn't seem willing to accept failure. It had been 50 years between gold medals.

Loaded with aging stars such as Mario Lemieux and Steve Yzerman, Salt Lake was viewed as a potential best chance for gold. Of course, Canada delivered then and they topped it by taking the World Cup with a younger and more dynamic squad.

Now it's about the triple -- if you don't count the loss to the Czech Republic in the World Championships where Canada didn't have its full compliment.

Rich Nash will be an important cog in Team Canada's success.

"The '02 team, we took a lot of key players and moved them to the wing. Mario (Lemieux) played wing and Yzerman played wing, but with this team, the wings are stronger," Gretzky said.

The only thing that will prove that this team is indeed stronger, is winning another medal. So, Canada finds itself in a tough spot. At best, they manage to stay at the top of the international hockey heap. If they win less than gold, they'll be viewed by some as utter failures.

Pretty good deal, huh?

But, Canada has many advantages.

For one, they have a blend of youth and experience that is beyond compare. When you look at the roster there are eight players who've won the Stanley Cup, a gold medal and a World Cup.

Rick Nash is a young power forward who's scored 28 points in 30 games for Columbus this season. He's battled injuries, but is finally fit. Dany Heatley's enjoying a monster year with Ottawa, recording 71 points in 56 games.

And Canada is blessed, as are the Tampa Bay Lightning, with the trio of Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis.

In goal, they sport the best in the world, Martin Brodeur, who has replaced Patrick Roy as this generation's money goalie.

"A lot of the players have played for this coaching staff so that gives us a leg up," Quinn said.

As if Canada needs another advantage. But with the burden they are carrying, they might just take every little edge they can get.