Lemieux Heads Canada Selections

Balancing loyalty to older players with a need for speed on the big Olympic ice surface, Team Canada’s first eight players for the Salt Lake City Games included many familiar names--and a few less prominent but valuable talents.

Pittsburgh Penguin center Mario Lemieux, making a remarkable comeback from a 2 1/2-year retirement, was appointed captain. The other forwards are Detroit Red Wing center Steve Yzerman, Mighty Duck left wing Paul Kariya--who won a silver medal at Lillehammer in 1994 but missed the 1998 Games because of post-concussion syndrome--San Jose bruiser Owen Nolan and Colorado Avalanche center Joe Sakic. The defensemen were Rob Blake of Colorado, Scott Niedermayer of the New Jersey Devils and Chris Pronger of the St. Louis Blues.

“They’re skilled, they have talent, and they can skate and have a tremendous amount of finesse,” Wayne Gretzky, Team Canada’s executive director, said at a news conference Friday at his Toronto restaurant.

Gretzky also said he spoke to 1998 Olympic captain Eric Lindros, who has not played this season because of post-concussion problems and a contract dispute with the Flyers, but said Lindros must play in the NHL to win a spot. “Come October, if Eric is playing, and I’m sure he’d be playing well, I’m sure Eric is going to be part of the team,” Gretzky said.

Gretzky and his management team didn’t choose a goalie. The top candidates are New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur, Toronto’s Curtis Joseph, Colorado’s Patrick Roy and Dallas’ Ed Belfour. The third goalie will be a youngster chosen to watch and get experience in practices.

Finland also announced its first eight. The forwards are former Mighty Duck right wing Teemu Selanne, now with San Jose, Saku Koivu of the Montreal Canadiens, Jere Lehtinen of the Dallas Stars, Juha Ylonen of the Phoenix Coyotes and Sami Kapanen of the Carolina Hurricanes. The defense will be led by Teppo Numminen of Phoenix, Janne Niinimaa of the Edmonton Oilers and Kimo Timmonen of the Nashville Predators.

The U.S. will announce its first players today.