Hockey Canada hires general manager Steve Yzerman to prepare Team Canada for Sochi Games -NHL News
The governing body of the Canadian game of ice hockey, Hockey Canada, has announced appointment of full management staff to prepare the national ice hockey team for Sochi Olympics in 2014.
The staff will be headed by the Tampa Bay Lightning’s general manager, Steve Yzerman.
This is for the second time that Yzerman has been given the leading role in the Team Canada, as he was its executive director during the 2010 successful run.
Canada is the reigning champion and winner of 2010 Olympics and Hockey Canada, formerly known as Canadian Hockey Association, and had almost the same team under the GM Yzerman then.
The appointment of the staff and the manager was announced at a media call on Monday, March 05, 2012.
Other staff includes Detroit Red Wings’ GM, Ken Holland, Hockey Canada’s president, Bob Nicholson, Edmonton Oilers’ president, Kevin Lowe, Hockey Canada’s vice-president, Brad Pascall, and St. Louis Blues’ GM, Doug Armstrong.
Bob Nicholson said of the appointment:
"When I met with Steve Yzerman, he didn't just want it- he really wanted to be involved and to lead this group. He quickly came to the conclusion that he'd like to have the same group around him that he did in Vancouver, so we're moving ahead."
Wayne Gretzky is another boss of the association who has run it for back-to-back Olympics assignments.
Yzerman said of the opportunity:
"The opportunity to work with Hockey Canada again is something I'm really excited about. I really, really enjoyed the experience in the past, and really look forward to the next few years. And hopefully all goes well and the National Hockey League players
will be participating in Sochi as well."
He was also the veteran player in the Canadian ice hockey team in 2002 Olympics when they beat the US team to win the gold medal for the first time in past 50 years.
So all along the official has remained a part of the Canadian ice hockey and now stands another opportunity to prepare and groom a national team before the next Olympics.
The game of ice hockey is very popular in Canada and the last win of the team has given boost to the fans’ hopes of winning the medal yet again.
Meanwhile, the National Hockey League (NHL) that represents ice hockey franchises from the United States and Canada is yet to decide if it will be sending a team to Sochi Games.
It will largely depend on the possibility of signing a new collective bargaining agreement with the players ‘union as the current agreement will expire on September 15, 2012.
Both the league and players’ union have to reach an agreement with the International Ice Hockey Federation and International Olympic Committee to win a place in the games.
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