Kariya Reportedly on Canadian Team

Duck left wing Paul Kariya is among seven players who have been named to the Canadian Olympic team, the Edmonton Journal reported Friday. Kariya will join Rob Blake and Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche, Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Scott Niedermayer of the New Jersey Devils, Chris Pronger of the St. Louis Blues and Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings.

A formal announcement of the team’s first eight players must be made by Wayne Gretzky, Team Canada’s executive director, by March 25.

Kariya was a member of the Canada’s silver medal-winning team in the 1994 Olympics. He also was selected to play in 1998, but was sidelined because of a concussion.

The 2002 Games will be held next February in Salt Lake City.

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Defenseman Ruslan Salei is expected to participate in his first full-contact practice today since suffering a concussion in mid-January. If all goes well, and he regains his fitness after almost two months away from the ice, he could play next week.

Salei was injured when he fell and hit his head on the ice Jan. 17 against the Atlanta Thrashers. He played two nights later against the Phoenix Coyotes, but experienced headaches and dizziness associated with post-concussion syndrome.