Nicholson Talks Olympics and NHL
Jarrod Rogol
July 13, 2005
As countries start to prepare their rosters and compile Nationals Teams to compete at the Torino Olympics in 2006, Hockey Canada which overseas the amateur hockey, Olympic Men and Women National Teams and the National Junior teams as well as represents Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation is hard at work focusing on gathering a group that can defend the Gold Medal.
During the 2006 Torino Olympic games, the Men will be in Group A along with: Italy, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Group B will include: the USA, Sweden, Kazakhstan, Russia, Slovakia, and Latvia.
The NHL and NHLPA have confirmed an agreement on the CBA, which ends the lockout, although it’s not known if NHL Players will be in the Olympics. When asked about the number of NHL Players who will be at camp Nicholson said this, “There are 36 players that are named to an Olympic camp in August. We have two scenarios as we prepare for Torino, as we are still not sure if NHL players will be allowed to play until after the Collective Bargaining agreement is done. If NHL players are playing in an Olympics we will name 20 skaters, 3 goalies to represent Canada. We will have the same number of players even if we have no NHL players.”
He also discussed what Canada will looking at when it comes to the CBA between the NHL and NHLPA, “The only places that we will be watching the CBA come together will be participation of NHL players in Olympics, World Championships and World Cup. Also we are hoping that the NHL/NHLPA will raise the draft age to 19 which will be great for hockey overall.”
When it came to Wayne Gretzky's role, Nicholson has to to say, " Wayne Gretzky will play a very significant role in the final roster if it is NHL players going to the Olympics. He will have the final say in this decision although Wayne always has a group input to make these decisions. If it is not NHL players he doesn’t know the players as well in Europe and will be there as a consultant.”
The last area the Nicholson commented on concerning NHL Players had to do with Paul Karyia who to date, hasn’t been invited to camp, as well as the Todd Bertuzzi situation. “Paul Kariya is a very good player although Paul has had some injuries over the last couple of years and the main part of the evaluation to see who the 23 players to represent Canada at the Olympics will really take place from October to December and how the players are playing so the door is certainly still open for him to be on the Olympic team.”
Regarding Bertuzzi, Nicholson basically said that if he is reinstated by the NHL, Hockey Canada will take a “wait and see approach,” during the fall to evaluate his performance.
Side Notes
Nicholson also expressed a key for Canadian youth to keep playing the hockey and for people to make sure it’s a positive aspect of their lives.
On Monday, August 15, General Motors Place in Vancouver, BC will be host to a practice for NHL players attending the National Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp starting at 5:00pm PDT followed by a Red versus White National Junior Team Camp inters quad game at 7:30pm PDT. (Hockey Canada Website)
Official NHL Invitee List
Official Site: Team Canada 2006
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