Monday, February 25, 2002
Chelios fires final shot, sort of
By BRUCE GARRIOCH -- Team Sun
SALT LAKE CITY -- Chris Chelios took a shot at Canadians yesterday, but he swears he was joking.
The Team USA captain, who wanted badly to win a gold medal, said it was nice for Canada to get the title because Canadians are not very good at any other sport.
"They have a certain pride about their hockey," Chelios said after Canada's 5-2 win in the Olympic final. "Mario Lemieux was quoted as saying it was Canada's game. We've listened to that. It might be the only game they're good at, except for curling and a couple of other things.
"All kidding aside, they're a group of good players,'' Chelios said. '`I've talked about it, years ago, how much pride they have in their hockey players. I think the Americans have caught up to them and taken the same attitude.
"Our attitude coming into this game was we're a better team and we've got to go out and prove it. Canada was just better than we were today."
STANDING IN LINE: The lineups outside the E Center security stops for the media were tough to get through yesterday because a lot of people showed up early. Team Canada assistants Wayne Fleming and Ken Hitchcock were among those who had to wait 30 minutes to get into the rink. Referee Bill McCreary and linesman Mike Cvik had to get permission from the rest of the crowd to bypass the lines. "We've got to get in there," McCreary told organizers before they asked the crowd if they would mind the officials going ahead. You'll be glad to know Hockey Night in Canada's Don Cherry didn't get the same kind of treatment.
ON THE FENCE: Actor Matthew Perry, an Ottawa native, was shown on the scoreboard during the first intermission, but refused to pick a winner. Instead, he sat on the fence because he didn't want to upset the American fans. "When you're in my positition, you just hope for a great game," said Perry, who plays Chandler Bing on Friends. Of course, Perry is a big Senators fan and watches most of their games on a satellite dish at his Los Angeles home.
Note: U.S. winger Keith Tkachuk, who missed two games with a thigh injury, returned to action yesterday.
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2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
