Sunday, January 6, 2002
Good luck Quinn, you'll sure need it
By GEORGE GROSS -- Corporate Sports Editor
It puzzles me why Pat Quinn is branded by some media types as a man who is difficult to deal with.
For instance, he is well known for not wanting to mention players' names while behind-the-scenes discussions are going on, as evidenced by the Eric Lindros no-trade last season. So, there's no sense bothering him with it.
On the other hand, he wasn't averse to naming some significant names regarding a possible Team Canada start in Salt Lake City when I talked to him yesterday.
"Should Mario (Lemieux) and Eric (Lindros) not be able to go to the Olympics, we decided to consider four, five names," Quinn said. "They are Keith Primeau, Anson Carter, Mark Recchi, Jeff O'Neill and the big kid Joe Thornton from Boston. On defence, in case of injuries, we would count on Wade Redden, while Derek Morris was hurt when we selected the team and we didn't know how his injury would respond."
I've known the popular Maple Leafs general manager/coach for more than three decades -- in fact since he knocked Bobby Orr cold with a fair shoulder charge in Boston Garden in the 1970s -- and I never have had any problems talking to him. Some people apparently do, but perhaps they should be asking themselves why.
At any rate, I talked to Quinn following Friday's heart-breaking loss of Canada's national junior team to the Russians at Pardubice, Czech Republic, the hometown of former Leaf netminder and now player agent, Jiri Crha.
I wanted to know whether the man, who'll be wearing his hat as coach of Team Canada in the Salt Lake City Olympics, feels that the loss of our junior team to the Muscovites would put extra pressure on him and the Canadian team.
Puffing on his stogie for relaxation, the big fellow with a broad smile thought for a minute, then said slowly, almost in the Texas-style of George W. Bush:
"While the defeat of the junior team was clearly disappointing, even though they tried hard and had an opportunity to win the gold, it will have no effect on our team in Salt Lake. It will certainly not put extra pressure on us.
"The Olympic competition will be really a tough one with all six finalists having almost an equal chance to win the top prize. Perhaps, only Finland could be regarded as a long shot. I know that we want to win the gold medal. We have a good team and we still have the major players I mentioned who were left off the team."
His position as coach of Team Canada in Salt Lake, the North American team in the all-star game at Los Angeles on Feb. 2 and the Leafs in their efforts to win the Stanley Cup in 2002, is sort of a dream come true for any coach in the shinny world. Pat Quinn recognizes the fact.
"I can't think of anything better," he said. "Coaching in the all-star game really is a team honour and it's because of the Leafs players' efforts that I will be coaching in L.A."
I wrote on Thursday that no Canadian player is a member of the international Triple Gold Club, an honour reserved for players who won a world championship title, at least one Olympic gold medal and are wearing a Stanley Cup ring.
Pat Quinn could form his own coaching elite club this season by winning gold at Salt Lake, leading the North American all-stars to victory and taking the Leafs to their first Stanley Cup in 35 years.
I certainly wish him the best of Irish luck. He'll need it.
GROSSLY ABBREVIATED: Memorial service for the late Janet Mellanby, wife of former Hockey Night in Canada boss Ralph Mellanby, mother of St. Louis Blues ace Scott Mellanby and rising international TV star Laura Mellanby will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. at St. James Cathedral (King and Church Sts). Michael Burgess will sing at the service ... Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe and his wife, Colleen, will carry the Salt Lake City-bound Olympic torch today at 5.20 p.m. in Warren, Mich. Detroit Red Wings' famous No. 9 is now a septuagenarian ... Tom Anselmi, senior executive vice-president of Maple Leaf Sport and Entertainment, has contributed $100 to the Sun Variety Village Christmas Fund to help move the total closer to $27,000. Thank you all and good luck in the draw for prizes on Jan. 11.
2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
