Wednesday, October 31, 2001
Mogilny says no to Salt Lake
By TERRY KOSHAN -- Toronto Sun
Alex Mogilny said yesterday he wants his young comrades to get a chance.
Mogilny, who did not play for Russia at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, said he will skip the Games in February in Salt Lake City.
"I don't want to play," said the Maple Leafs winger, who has played in the NHL since 1989 and has U.S. citizenship. "There's plenty of talent. With 18 or 20 guys, I don't think I could make the team now."
With his talent, Mogilny actually wouldn't have much of a problem earning a spot with Russia. But although he has not played in the Olympics since 1988, he said he has a, "been there, done that," attitude toward participating in Salt Lake.
Another big-name Russian, Detroit Red Wings centre Sergei Fedorov, still is mulling over whether he will play. Fedorov played on the silver-medal winning Russian squad in Nagano. Fedorov has had a number of conversations with Russian general manager/coach Slava Fetisov and told Fetisov last week he wanted more time to decide if he would take part.
"We'll see," Fedorov said. "I don't think our team is organized very well right now."
Dallas Stars defenceman Sergei Zubov said last winter he had no intention of playing for Russia.
A lot of Russian-born players weren't high on the possibility of playing for old-style coach Boris Mikhailov, and when Fetisov was named GM/coach, many embraced the change.
2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
