Tuesday, February 12, 2002
Canadians on torpedo watch
By AL STRACHAN -- Toronto Sun
SALT LAKE CITY -- One of the problems Team Canada might have to face in the Olympic tournament is the torpedo defence that is in vogue in Sweden.
It's an aggressive forechecking style with two forwards applying heavy pressure in what is basically a 2-2-1 formation rather than the standard 3-2.
Some people see it as a one-defenceman system, but others say it's really three defencemen. Either way, the consensus is that it probably will not have an impact during the Olympics because there isn't time for the coaches to teach it.
Most of the Swedish players, having spent their recent winters in North America, are not familiar with the system.
Ponikarovsky shines: One of the better players for Ukraine in its qualifying-round game against Switzerland yesterday was Maple Leafs prospect Alexei Ponikarovsky. The big forward produced a strong physical performance on the top line and set up Ukraine's second goal, scored by Ruslan Fedotenko of the Philadelphia Flyers, in his team's 5-2 win.
Russia getting serious: One of the reasons the Russians are being widely touted as medal favourites here is their change in attitude.
In 1998, the Russians were a lackadaisical lot, fighting among themselves and playing a brand of hockey that was generally uninspired. But this time, Team Russia is taking a serious approach.
For the past few months Russian players have been meeting at every opportunity -- usually under the stands after NHL games -- to discuss developments and strategies.
When they're in Detroit, there's a post-game command performance with Igor Larionov, who is acting as the right-hand man for coach Viacheslav Fetisov.
The Russians were badly embarrassed on their home turf in last year's world championship and are determined to make amends.
Great joke: In his news conference yesterday, U.S. coach Herb Brooks took a pot shot at the coach of Team Canada 1998, Marc Crawford.
Brooks was asked if he already had a lineup in mind should the Americans find themselves in a shootout situation.
"I know that if I had Mr. Gretzky ... " he said, before breaking up in laughter. Then he apologized to Crawford in advance, but said he couldn't resist the jab.
2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
