Sunday, December 16, 2001
Injuries a bit of a pain
By LANCE HORNBY -- Toronto Sun
The team captain and the power winger are the big question marks now that Team Canada's roster has been set.
Mario Lemieux received a setback from Pittsburgh Penguins' doctors the same week that executive director Wayne Gretzky and his lieutenants met to discuss their last choices. But Gretzky could offer nothing different than the close-mouthed Lemieux has about that latter's wonky hip condition.
"You guys know as much as we do," Gretzky said yesterday when quizzed about Lemieux's condition. "If he can't play, others can step in."
Lemieux has played just 11 games this year, almost all in October, ringing up 10 points. Lemieux is under intense pressure from Pittsburgh fans to skip Salt Lake City, save himself for the second half of the year and get the club back into the playoff race for the badly needed post-season revenue a berth provides.
RETURN DATE
He has not yet said he will miss the tournament, but his return date is continually listed as indefinite, with no firm plans to resume skating. He did not address the media yesterday after the team was picked.
But assistant director Kevin Lowe agreed that Lemieux's amazing string of comebacks, including playing the same day he took his last chemotherapy treatments for non-Hodgkins lymphoma, makes him a special case where late decisions are concerned. All participating nations can make changes to their roster until just before their first game.
"Mario is a good enough professional in terms of knowing his own ability," Lowe said. "That (final decision) will be a private conversation between Mario and Wayne."
Lowe, the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers, had a much more pleasant duty yesterday, informing Ryan Smyth of the Oilers that he was on the team, despite a broken ankle sidelining him until sometime in January. Smyth's enthusiasm around the net and great hands were considered worth the risk of picking him, though a replacement might well be needed when the final roster crunch comes in February.
"He was very emotional when I called him," Lowe said after phoning him back in Edmonton. "When he broke his ankle (in November), he was in tears.
"But knowing the person, the athlete and his desire, I told him not to worry about it right away.
"The concern is not unlike Mario, but if things go as planned, he could get 10 to 12 games in before the Olympics."
2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
