Brooks Is Eager to Coach Team USA

Herb Brooks lost the battle to keep NHL players out of the Olympics. But as coach of the 2002 U.S. men’s hockey team--which will be stocked with NHL stars--Brooks believes he can help win the fight to promote development of U.S. players.

“A lot of people debated the question of pros in the Olympic Games, and I don’t take that back at all. But that side lost the debate,” said Brooks, who coached the 1980 U.S. team to gold at Lake Placid and today will be introduced as coach of the Salt Lake City squad.

“If you lose, you move forward, go backward or drop out. These are the rules now, and I accept that. The overriding thing is the cause of progress in the American hockey movement, and I do care about American hockey.

“I believe Americans can play at a world-class level on the world stage and compete with anybody. We don’t have to be second-class to anybody. I really believe our players will measure up. If I had any doubts, I’d stay on the sidelines.”

Brooks’ assistants will be Lou Vairo, coach of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team, and John Cunniff, coach of the New Jersey Devils’ top farm club and an Olympic assistant in 1994 and 1998.

Each competing Olympic team must identify eight players by April 1, 2001. Brooks said he has already made inquiries and done some informal scouting.

“I’m very drawn to this,” he said. “I’ve seen, over the years, U.S. players not being given objective chances and I’ve seen a lot of good American players overlooked. I’ve seen Americans go from apprentices or journeymen to real masters of the trade. The American hockey movement has come a long way, and I’d like to help keep it going.”

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Wayne Gretzky, whose bid to buy the Phoenix Coyotes with developer Steve Ellman is nearing completion, will work with the Canadian Olympic team at Salt Lake City in a role he hopes to define soon.

“I’d love to be involved,” said Gretzky, who played for Canada at Nagano in 1998. “I love the Olympics.”