‘94 WINTER OLYMPICS / LILLEHAMMER : NOTEBOOK

USA Hockey, the sport’s national governing body, is reserving judgment on the Dream Team idea for the 1998 Nagano Winter Games in Japan. Dave Ogrean, the organization’s executive director, said the format might discourage youngsters in USA Hockey’s developmental programs, some of whom have earned berths on the Olympic team in previous years. They would lose that incentive if NHL players took those spots, Ogrean said.

“That’s one of the biggest philosophical dilemmas to deal with,” he added. “We don’t have a formal position on this. A lot of people, and it’s not entirely inappropriate, cling to the experience of 1980 (when college players dominated the roster of the gold-medal U.S. team). The truth is, though, the sports world and the hockey world have changed since then, like it or not. Our mind is open, but we’re also very interested in being an integral part of the decision-making process.”

The proposal would have to be approved by the end of 1994 for scheduling to be completed by organizers in Nagano.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman favors the idea, but the NHL Players Assn. is not enthusiastic--especially since it wasn’t invited to talks between Bettman and International Ice Hockey Federation officials here last week.

“Personally, I don’t like it at all,” said former NHL defenseman Doug Wilson, who now works for the NHLPA. “There are a lot of questions to be answered as it stands now.”

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U.S. goaltender Garth Snow backs the Dream Team idea and hopes he will be chosen for a second Olympic team.

“I’d do it again next year if there was another Olympics,” he said. “I just have to bust my butt in the NHL to get back here.”

After the Games, Snow is expected to rejoin the Quebec Nordiques. Fellow goalie Mike Dunham is awaiting word on whether he will report to the New Jersey Devils or their farm club in Albany, N.Y.