Olympic Team to Look Familiar

The 1998 U.S. Olympic hockey team will bear a strong resemblance to the American squad that won last year’s World Cup of Hockey, based on the hope that hockey history will repeat itself and bring the U.S. its first Olympic medal since the 1980 team’s stunning gold-medal triumph at Lake Placid, N.Y.

Fifteen of the 17 players named Monday to represent the U.S. in the Nagano Games played for Ron Wilson on Team USA in 1996. The two others, Phoenix center Jeremy Roenick and Florida goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck, were on the World Cup squad but withdrew, Roenick because he was unsigned and unwilling to risk injury and Vanbiesbrouck because he was recovering from shoulder surgery.

Six spots were left open and will probably be filled by a goalie, two defensemen and three forwards. Olympic rosters must be submitted no later than Dec. 1.

The NHL will take an 18-day break in February so its star players can represent their homelands in Nagano. Team USA may have as few as three practices before beginning play Feb. 13, and the need for quick bonding and familiarity was a key reason Wilson was named the Olympic coach.

“I don’t think I had to go any further than Ron after the job he did in the World Cup,” said Olympic General Manager Lou Lamoriello, who is also GM of the New Jersey Devils. “Having the seat I did [as Team USA’s general manager] and seeing how he brought them together, it was not a difficult decision.”

Wilson’s assistants are John Cunniff, an associate coach of the 1994 Olympic team and a World Cup assistant; Paul Holmgren, director of player personnel for the Philadelphia Flyers, and Jeff Jackson, the USA Hockey national coach. Jack Ferreira of the Mighty Ducks, Mike Milbury of the New York Islanders and Craig Patrick of the Pittsburgh Penguins were named assistants to Lamoriello.

“This is a bit of a dream come true,” Wilson said. “I always wanted to be associated with an Olympic team and I appreciate the magnitude of what this is all about.

“During the World Cup, we said if we kept this going, the end would be February [of 1998], when we got together again for the Olympics. We proved to ourselves we’re capable of competing with every country in the world for top honors and the players named today were the core of that team. I think my job will be easier because of the continuity.”

The forwards named Monday include Tony Amonte of Chicago, Adam Deadmarsh of Colorado, Brett Hull of St. Louis, John LeClair of Philadelphia, Mike Modano of Dallas, Joel Otto of Philadelphia, Roenick, Keith Tkachuk of Phoenix, and Doug Weight of Edmonton.

Defensemen are Chris Chelios of Chicago, Derian Hatcher of Dallas and his brother, Kevin, of Pittsburgh; Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers, Mathieu Schneider of Toronto, and Gary Suter of Chicago.

The goaltenders are Mike Richter of the Rangers and Vanbiesbrouck.

Chelios was on the 1984 Olympic team, Richter and Leetch were on the 1988 squad and Tkachuk played for the U.S. in 1992.

Notably absent are New York Ranger center Pat LaFontaine, New York Islander defenseman Bryan Berard and New Jersey right wing Bill Guerin.

The prospect of an Olympic berth spurred LaFontaine, a 1984 Olympian and member of the World Cup team, through his comeback from post-concussion syndrome. Berard, last year’s rookie of the year, was considered a candidate because of his emergence as an offensive star. Guerin, a past Olympian, is embroiled in a contract dispute with the Devils and is sitting out.

One or all may be added, but none is likely to be in Nagano. The team is so strong at center, Lamoriello said, that LaFontaine’s selection would cause a glut. And he said Berard, although “a fine prospect,” wouldn’t be likely to get much playing time with a veteran defense. He said Guerin’s inactivity was the reason he omitted the speedy right wing, not their contract dispute.

Also not returning from the World Cup team are Duck goalie Guy Hebert and forward Scott Young, forwards Bryan Smolinski, Bill Guerin, Shawn McEachern, Brian Rolston and Steve Konowalchuk and defensemen Phil Housley and Shawn Chambers. Of that group, Hebert has the best shot at a roster spot. However, he said Monday he hadn’t been told to remain on standby.

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1998 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team

FORWARDS

Player: Team

Tony AmonteChicago

Adam Deadmarsh: Colorado

Brett Hull: St. Louis

John LeClair: Philadelphia

Mike Modano: Dallas

Joel Otto: Philadelphia

Jeremy Roenick: Phoenix

Keith Tkachuk: Phoenix

Doug Weight: Edmonton

DEFENSEMEN

Player: Team

Chris Chelios: Chicago

Derian Hatcher: Dallas

Kevin Hatcher: Pittsburgh

Brian Leetch: N.Y. Rangers

Mathieu Schneider: Toronto

Gary Suter: Chicago

GOALTENDERS

Player: Team

Mike Richter: N.Y. Rangers

John Vanbiesbrouck: Florida