Post by jimsabo21 on Mar 1, 2005 22:55:27 GMT -5
Posted on OurBombers.com:
MTS Centre sought as site for Team Canada training
Tue Mar 1 2005
HOCKEY Canada president Bob Nicholson contacted the Moose yesterday to explore the possibility of holding training camp at the MTS Centre for Team Canada before this spring's International Ice Hockey Federation World Hockey Championship.
Team Canada requested dates in early April and that could potentially squelch any further talks.
The Moose, primary tenants at the MTS Centre, will most likely be in the AHL playoffs at that time, making it difficult to predict dates and to get at the new building, club officials said.
Hockey Canada was thrilled with the work done by the Moose and Hockey Manitoba last December when they hosted the selection camp for Canada's junior team at the MTS Centre, plus three exhibition games prior to the world tournament in Grand Forks, N.D.
"The send-off by Hockey Manitoba was excellent and I can't say enough about the Moose and Zinger (Moose general manager Craig Heisinger)," Nicholson said at the time.
Halifax is also rumoured to be in the running to host the camp, which could potentially feature a who's who of Canadian hockey. Stars such as Jarome Iginla, Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lacavalier, Joe Thornton and Joe Sakic, who led Canada to the World Cup championship last September, would all be available because of the ongoing NHL lockout.
Meanwhile, Mario Lemieux says he doesn't expect to play for Canada, but he has not ruled it out entirely.
"I think it's going to be very difficult for me to play in April, not having played the whole year," the Penguins player/owner said in yesterday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I think most of the guys who are going to play in the world championship are guys who are playing in Europe and have been playing for a few months.
"I'm not sure it would be in my best interest -- or in Team Canada's best interest -- to have players there who haven't played the whole year," Lemieux said. "That's the way I feel now. Maybe I'll change my mind, but it would be very difficult to play at that level, not having played the whole year."
The world championship runs April 30 to May 15 in Austria.
Hockey Canada has asked Wayne Gretzky to once again be at the helm of Team Canada. Gretzky was the architect behind Canada's 2002 Olympic gold-medal squad and last fall's World Cup champion team. Gretzky is expected to accept the invitation. -- Gary Lawless, wire services
MTS Centre sought as site for Team Canada training
Tue Mar 1 2005
HOCKEY Canada president Bob Nicholson contacted the Moose yesterday to explore the possibility of holding training camp at the MTS Centre for Team Canada before this spring's International Ice Hockey Federation World Hockey Championship.
Team Canada requested dates in early April and that could potentially squelch any further talks.
The Moose, primary tenants at the MTS Centre, will most likely be in the AHL playoffs at that time, making it difficult to predict dates and to get at the new building, club officials said.
Hockey Canada was thrilled with the work done by the Moose and Hockey Manitoba last December when they hosted the selection camp for Canada's junior team at the MTS Centre, plus three exhibition games prior to the world tournament in Grand Forks, N.D.
"The send-off by Hockey Manitoba was excellent and I can't say enough about the Moose and Zinger (Moose general manager Craig Heisinger)," Nicholson said at the time.
Halifax is also rumoured to be in the running to host the camp, which could potentially feature a who's who of Canadian hockey. Stars such as Jarome Iginla, Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lacavalier, Joe Thornton and Joe Sakic, who led Canada to the World Cup championship last September, would all be available because of the ongoing NHL lockout.
Meanwhile, Mario Lemieux says he doesn't expect to play for Canada, but he has not ruled it out entirely.
"I think it's going to be very difficult for me to play in April, not having played the whole year," the Penguins player/owner said in yesterday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I think most of the guys who are going to play in the world championship are guys who are playing in Europe and have been playing for a few months.
"I'm not sure it would be in my best interest -- or in Team Canada's best interest -- to have players there who haven't played the whole year," Lemieux said. "That's the way I feel now. Maybe I'll change my mind, but it would be very difficult to play at that level, not having played the whole year."
The world championship runs April 30 to May 15 in Austria.
Hockey Canada has asked Wayne Gretzky to once again be at the helm of Team Canada. Gretzky was the architect behind Canada's 2002 Olympic gold-medal squad and last fall's World Cup champion team. Gretzky is expected to accept the invitation. -- Gary Lawless, wire services