Friday, February 1, 2002
Canada's goalie picture muddled
By CHRIS STEVENSON -- SLAM! Sports
LOS ANGELES - The question of Team Canada's goaltending rotation for the Olympics - now just two weeks away - remained unanswered Friday.
In fact, it became even more muddled when Team Canada executive director Wayne Gretzky said he is leaving the door open for the goaltender named the third man, who will likely go to Salt Lake to just sit in the stands, to pull out of the Olympics.
"We said all along we want to give that goaltender the decision, put it in his hands," said Gretzky. "Although I will say that all three goaltenders have publicly said they were fine with the scenario. They wanted to be part of Team Canada and we don't seem to be in as much of a crisis as we were before all three goaltenders made those statements.
"I'll leave it to the individual. If he says, 'Quite frankly, I really appreciate it, but I've decided to take a step backwards'...the indications we've had over the last two months, what these players have said, seems to be the opposite of that."
Toronto's Curtis Joseph - expected to start the first game Feb. 15 against Sweden - New Jersey's Martin Brodeur and Dallas' Ed Belfour have been named to the team. Belfour beat out Sean Burke, who plays for Gretkzy's Phoenix Coyotes, for the third spot in a spirited debate. Gretzky pleaded for Burke, while ex-Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock, a Team Canada assistant, made the case for Belfour.
Gretzky made it clear Burke will be added to the team if the designated third goaltender decides to pull out.
"Absolutely. It won't even be an issue," said Gretzky. "He deserves it. He'll be the first phone call...For this particular situation, it will absolutely Sean Burke that will get the phone call. No wavering off that."
Burke said, if asked, he would accept to be Canada's third goaltender.
"Of course I would go," he said after the skills competition Friday night.
"It'd still be a great honour. I'd accept whatever role and gladly do it. I'd find a way to make the arrangements."
Gretzky had said Thursday night Team Canada would name its third goaltender Friday, but backed off. There was some confusion over the status of the third goaltender. It was first thought the player named the third goaltender could not play unless one of the other two goaltenders were injured.
"As it is now, all three goaltenders can play without injury or without illness," said Gretzky. "Some of the rules are sometimes hard to understand...after our discussions (Thursday) and today, we haven't been able to make a final decision. We want to give it a little bit more time, although we know which way we are leaning. It's not a race to make that decision."
Gretzky did say he wants to let the goaltenders know what the situation is as soon as possible.
"We're not going to have (the third goaltender) go there to tell him when he gets there, he's number three...we're not going to panic over it, yet we are going to let that guy know strictly because maybe his family doesn't want to travel all that way and spend all that money knowing he's not going to be part of it as far as playing the actual games."
The only decision that's been made so far is to having one goaltender play the first game against Sweden and the second man play two days later against one of the teams that qualifies from the preliminary round.
The Canadian goaltending situation took a turn for the worst when Colorado's Patrick Roy, the best goaltender in the league this season, pulled out of consideration, opting to rest and prepare for the stretch run and the playoffs.
There have been rumours he was miffed about not being named to the original eight selections last March.
The uncertainty of Canada's goaltending situation has generated no shortage of opinions.
"I think over the long term, it's good to have three goalies who can play at a high level," said Czech star Jaromir Jagr. "But in a tournament like that...I think you should name your number one so he can be ready. Maybe if they had named Patrick Roy right away, he would be their starting goalie now."
He's probably right.
2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
