Monday, February 25, 2002
Nolan bolts for camera
By ERIC FRANCIS -- Calgary Sun
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah -- While most of the country watched coverage of Canada's gold-medal win yesterday, Owen Nolan was busy collecting rare video footage of his own.
Shortly after Canada went up 4-2 with four minutes to play, Nolan ran back to the dressing room to grab a camcorder to record the ensuing celebration.
"I was standing up, taping everything the last minute of the game," said Nolan, who pressed the record button seconds before the crowd punctuated 50 years of frustration with an emotional chorus of O Canada.
"It was great."
When asked what he would have done had he been sent on the ice for the final seconds, he laughed.
"I wasn't going," said Nolan, who charged onto the ice with the camera to record the frenzied celebration.
"I was too busy."
Every player had a different way of celebrating yesterday as the bench emptied onto the ice to converge on goaltender Martin Brodeur. Joe Nieuwendyk cradled his 10-month old daughter Tyra while Mike Peca also brought his young son onto the ice for the medal ceremony.
A fist-pumping Wayne Gretzky hugged his kids and wife Janet, as well as Kevin Lowe, Bob Nicholson and the rest of Team Canada's brain trust in their balcony seats before rushing down to the ice.
Theo Fleury openly wept before grabbing a flag and leading the team around the ice for their victory lap. Ryan Smyth and Adam Foote also grabbed Canadian flags for the medal presentation.
Brendan Shanahan stood and stared at the medal after it was hung around his neck.
"I haven't really had a good chance to look at it," smiled Shanahan. "But I know it's nice and heavy."
Jarome Iginla said he wasn't sure what he was doing out there.
"I was just flying by the seat of my pants -- I hadn't planned anything," said Iginla.
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2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
