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Gretzky says Lemieux had
kciha
2004-08-30
Gretzky says Lemieux had "calming effect" on young team Canada
OTTAWA (CP) - Canada's team for the World Cup of Hockey is among the youngest in the tournament, with 12 players 25 or younger and only seven over 30.
쟕hat puts the onus on veterans such as Mario Lemeux, Joe Sakic and Adam Foote to show the young ones the way at a major international event. Team executive director Wayne Gretzky said Thursday that is nothing new.
"It's a learning process we all go through," he said. "Gordie Howe said it best years ago, that he never stopped learning.
"Even the greatest players don't stop, and that's why they're the best. In 1976, Guy Lafleur learned from Bobby Orr and those guys. In 1981, I got a chance to learn from guys like Lafleur. In '87, Mario got to learn from us guys.
Team Canada's Mario Lemieux takes a drink of water during a practice session.(CP /Jonathan Hayward) |
"Here we are in 2002 and this is new for guys like Vincent (Lecavalier) and Joe Thornton. They're getting an opportunity to be around Mario and Sakic and see how hard they work. It'll make them better players and we all benefit from it."
Lemieux sat out Canada's first exhibition game, a 3-1 loss to the United States on Monday, but Gretzky said Lemieux's mere presence helped the team rebound for a 3-1 win over the Americans on Wednesday night.
"With Mario in the locker room last night, it seemed to have a calming effect on our team," he said. "Our intensity level was still high, but it seemed calmer in the locker room.
Members of team Canada celebrate their 3-1 win over team U.S.A.during World Cup of Hocky exhibition action at the Corel Centre in Ottawa Wednesday Aug. 25, 2004. (CP PHOTO/Jonathan Hayward) |
"Hopefully, our young players are feeling more comfortable. They seem to be. I think they're enjoying themselves."
The slick Sakic, 35, is another role model.
"We've got some guys who have never played in this sort of situation before," said Gretzky. "Joe Sakic's a great example.
"His shifts are short and hard and his energy level is always extremely high. He plays with an edge to him. We want to get every guy at that level."
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Canada's young guns include Jay Bouwmeester (21), Dany Heatley (23), Vincent Lecavalier (24), Robyn Regehr (24), Brad Richards (24), Simon Gagne (24), Patrick Marleau (24), Roberto Luongo (25), Eric Brewer (25), Scott Hannan (25), Brenden Morrow (25) and Joe Thornton (25).
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