Drew Doughty admits to ‘awe’ at Olympic teammates

Reporting from Vancouver, Canada — 

Team Canada and Kings defenseman Drew Doughty is so poised it’s easy to forget he’s only 20 years old and plays alongside players he idolized only a few years ago.

But Doughty admitted he felt like a kid again when he met his Olympic teammates for their first practice Monday.

“I was a little in awe,” he said Tuesday. “Passing the puck to guys like Joe Thornton and Sidney Crosby was a little weird. I really didn’t know what to think. I didn’t want to make a mistake.

“But once we’ve gotten settled in and I’ve gotten to know the guys a little it’s been a lot easier.”

Doughty had an easy enough time in his Olympic debut, earning an assist on Canada’s first goal in an 8-0 rout of Norway.

Doughty played 15 minutes 21 seconds, at times paired with Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer and occasionally with former Duck and current Flyer Chris Pronger.

“He’s got a lot of composure with the puck and is obviously a great skater,” Pronger said. “He can move the puck very well and he’s got a good shot. It’s a lot of fun playing with him.”

The Ducks’ three representatives on Team Canada also made an impact. Scott Niedermayer, Canada’s captain, played a solid 19:06 and was plus-1. Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry each scored a goal, with Perry playing 13:12 and Getzlaf playing 12:49 alongside left wing Eric Staal of Carolina.

Getzlaf showed no signs of any problems with his left ankle, which he sprained last week and worked diligently to rehabilitate so he would be able to play here.

“He’s come a long way. He looks good out there,” Perry said. “He’s playing to his potential.”

In the tournament opener, U.S. winger Bobby Ryan scored a goal against Ducks teammate Jonas Hiller as the U.S. beat Switzerland, 3-1. A third member of the Ducks, defenseman Ryan Whitney, played only 12:23, including only 42 seconds in the third period.

Swiss defenseman Luca Sbisa, who was acquired by the Ducks last summer when they traded Pronger to Philadelphia and started the season in Anaheim before being sent back to junior hockey, played a steady 16:47.

Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick was the extra goalie for the U.S. and was not in uniform but defenseman Jack Johnson was plus-1 in 16:56 and Kings captain Dustin Brown -- an alternate captain Tuesday -- played 13:27. He moved from his natural right side to the left wing with Ryan Kesler of the Canucks and Jamie Langenbrunner of the Devils.

“I felt fine with my linemates,” Brown said. “It’s about playing with whoever it takes so you can help the team.”

Hiller said he didn’t realize that his Ducks teammate had gotten the best of him on Team USA’s first goal. “You cannot realize. When he shoots you just try to stop it,” Hiller said.

“I wasn’t really nervous. We didn’t really have anything to lose, kind of. I was excited. It was a huge honor to play the opening game, play for the Swiss team. I wanted to do well and show something.”

Hiller will next face Canada on Thursday, so there’s no relief in sight for him. But he sees reason for hope.

“There’s room for improvement for us,” he said. “Everybody knows Swiss hockey is good enough to beat those teams if they come out sleeping. The Canadians are going to have a big team again and it’s going to be a tough game to play.”

helene.elliott@latimes.com