Yzerman to lead Team Canada's efforts for 2010 Olympics
Steve Yzerman, the general manager of the Canadian national teams for the past two world championships, on Saturday was named executive director of Team Canada for the 2010 Vancouver Games.
Yzerman will have plenty of experience to lean on as he puts together Canada's men's Olympic squad, with Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland, Edmonton Oilers president Kevin Lowe and St. Louis Blues executive Doug Armstrong joining his staff.
"Hockey Canada is going to Vancouver to make all Canadians proud in 2010 and Steve is just the person to lead us," Hockey Canada president and CEO Bob Nicholson said in a statement. "Steve is well respected throughout the hockey world for good reason. He has served this country whenever called upon and we are thrilled that he will be leading our Men's Olympic Team in 2010."
Former executive director and current Phoenix Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky also will serve an an adviser to Yzerman.
"It's Stevie's team," Gretzky told the Ottawa Sun this week. "It's going to be his staff. It's going to be his coaches and his players. This is definitely handing the reins over. This is not my team."
Holland, Lowe and Armstrong all have past international hockey experience either at the World Hockey Championships or Olympics. Lowe was Gretzky's right-hand man in putting together the 2002 and 2006 Canadian men's Olympic teams.
The team's coaching staff isn't expected to be announced until next spring or summer.
Yzerman, currently a vice president with the Detroit Red Wings, replaces Gretzky, who was executive director for the team that won the 2002 Olympic gold medal in Salt Lake City, but lost to Russia in the quarterfinals at the 2006 Torino Games.
Canada won gold in 2007 and silver this past May at the world championships, with Yzerman in charge as general manager.
As a player, Yzerman competed in two Olympics, three world championships, a World Cup, Canada Cup and world junior championship. He also won three Stanley Cups with the Red Wings and retired as the sixth-leading scorer in league history.
Pierre LeBrun covers the NHL for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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