United States Olympic Team goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck sports a motif of bees after his nickname "The Beezer" in shape of patriotic stars and stripes during practice at the Nagano Skate Center Tuesday, Feb. 10, 1998.ASSOCIATED PRESS

A battle for hockey supremacy

Web posted February 11, 1998

By Dennis Sodomka
Morris News Service

NAGANO - The big boys have arrived to duke it out for world hockey supremacy.

As the National Hockey League shut down for two weeks the league's stars flew to Japan to join their national teams for what is being billed as the greatest hockey tournament ever.

"It's the best against the best,'' said Brian Leetch. "When the rules were changed to allow professionals to compete we were very excited. It was a big deal for all of us.''

Unlike the dream team of NBA basketball players who stayed in first-rate hotels when they played in the last two Olympics, the hockey players will be in the Athlete's Village with everyone else. They say that only adds to the experience.

"I'm interested in seeing the other athletes,'' said Chris Chelios, who was named captain of the U.S. team. "This morning we saw the prince of Monaco (a bobsledder)."

"There's no room service, no feather pillows. The camaraderie is going to bring us closer together. That's what it's going to take for us to have a great deal of success,'' said John Vanbiesbrouck.

"I am really interested in meeting the other athletes from different sports," said Brett Hull. "I don't know if I need to learn how to do the other sports, I mean I don't want to learn to luge or anything. I don't need to go that fast.

"But I did see Tommy Moe and all I could imagine is that this guy skis at over 100 miles per hour. I mean that is so fast. To feel an intricate part of what all the athletes are trying to accomplish over here is amazing. I don't think that you can pass that opportunity up. "

We want to see ski jumping tomorrow. We want to see the sites, get away, go have lunch at a sushi bar.''

The Americans and Canada are the two powerhouses, but other teams such as Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic and Russia are packed with NHL players. The U.S. team beat Canada for the first World Cup last year, and that has left the Canadians hungry for revenge.

"We're trying to prove the World Cup is no fluke," said Leetch. "It's a great opportunity for all of us. It's not like you'll get to do this again next year.''

Leetch and Keith Tkachuk were named assistant captains of the team.

Chelios called the Olympics "the highlight of my career. If I make it to Salt Lake City (in 2002)it will probably be as a coach or something.

"This is the best tournament ever. It's a great stride for hockey.''

The hockey players all said they were thrilled to be in the Olympics and didn't mind leaving their hockey teams behind for two weeks. It's a sacrifice by the NHL to shut down their league in order to allow the players to come over and play,'' said Vanbiesbrouck. "It's a great risk to do that because there will be a lot of contact. Finally we are getting the best playing against the best, in a tournament that's going to give all the credibility that money can't offer.''

The rules are slightly different than the NHL, but there will be plenty of hitting and NFL referees will officiate in games with predominantly NHL players. The preliminary tournament has been going on all week, but the top-seeded teams begin play Friday when the U.S. plays Sweden.

The U.S. and Canada square off Monday, which both teams hope will be a preview of a gold medal match Feb. 22, the final day of the Olympics. We want to show everybody that the United States has climbed the ladder in hockey around the world,'' said Guy Hebert. "It's a common goal for all of us.''