Gretzky blames world for Canada's woes

The team's general manager, under intense pressure to win the gold medal, says other countries "hate us'' and want to see his team fail.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 19, 2002

Gretzky

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah -- The only thing Wayne Gretzky was missing Monday night was the white shirt, the red tie, a handkerchief and a line about not getting enough respect.

Canada's general manager went off after his team rallied for a 3-3 tie with the Czech Republic at the E Center.

According to Gretzky, everyone, everyone, except Canadians, wants to see his boys lose, and media reports that the team's veterans are unhappy with coach Pat Quinn are, and we're serious here, "American propaganda."

Then Gretzky called for the suspension of Czech Republic defenseman Roman Hamrlik for a third-period cross-check on Theo Fleury.

"He cross-checked him in the back and blatantly tried to hurt him. He should be suspended for the rest of the tournament," Gretzky said. "If a Canadian player had done that, he would have been suspended.

"Am I hot? Yeah. I'm tired of people taking shots at Canadian hockey. If we do something like that, we're hooligans."

Of the March 25 game between Hamrlik's Islanders and Fleury's Rangers, Gretzky, who had just one fight in his career, put Hamrlik on notice.

"They should remember that there's payback in this game, and it won't be pretty," he said.

Before we go any further, let's do some housekeeping.

Joe Nieuwendyk's goal with 3 minutes, 24 seconds remaining created the tie, but the defending champion Czech Republic (1-1-1) took second place in pool play on goal differential and meets Russia in Wednesday's quarterfinals. Canada (1-1-1) faces Finland after Finland upset Russia 3-1.

The game had its own sideshow.

There was an apparent save by Czech goaltender Dominik Hasek that, after a video review, turned into Mario Lemieux's second goal. And Hasek said of NHL referee Bill McCreary, "I was very disappointed. I don't think this is the way they should call a game."

Now, back to our master of ceremonies, who apparently has had enough of what he perceives as Canada-bashing.

It started when Gretzky was asked if Canadian players have respect for European players.

"Everyone in our locker room can tell you how great Hasek is, (Jaromir) Jagr and (Martin) Havlat (who had two goals). I'll tell you what it is," Gretzky said. "They don't like us. They love beating us."

As for the U.S. connection, he said, "It sickens my stomach to turn the TV on. It makes me ill to hear what's being said about Canadian hockey."

Other countries, he said, "hate us. ... The Americans love our poor start. Nobody wants us to win except our players and our loyal fans."

Gretzky's anger seems misplaced.

Whatever pressure the team feels is clearly coming from north of the boarder, where fans and many in the media expect the team to reclaim the country's preeminence in the sport with its first Olympic gold in 50 years.

But after a bad loss to Finland and a struggle against weakling Germany, the fans were in an uproar.

"Honest to God," said Ottawa Sun sports writer Bruce Garrioch, who covers the Senators, "it's insane. ... They have to win every period, every minute, every game. People in Canada don't understand how their hockey team can come here and play the way it has."

An additional burr in the saddle is the superior play of USA, the top seed in its pool.

"Worse than Canada's play is that these guys are (2-0-1)," Garrioch said. "Canadians think that the one thing they can beat Americans at is hockey."

The good news for Canada, which played its best game against the Czech Republic, is every team starts with a clean slate in the quarterfinals.

"We can only control what we do on the ice," forward Ryan Smyth said.

"Actions speak louder than words. We have to go out and show the country that we are the team to beat."

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