Roy goes for Olympic gold
Patrick Roy's previously injured left shoulder is just fine this morning, despite having the weight
of Canada's Olympic hockey hopes added to it. But who better to have those hopes pinned on
than Mr. Roy? What had been one of the hockey world's worst-kept secrets was finally made
public Saturday, when Roy, along with Avalanche teammates Joe Sakic and Adam Foote - was
selected to represent Canada for the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. "If there's one
competition you want to play in, I think it's this one," Roy said. "It'll be nice to be there." On a
television show nationally broadcast in Canada a half-hour before he took the ice against the
Carolina Panthers Roy and his two teammates officially learned of their selection. Sakic was also
given the additional prestige of being named an assistant captain. Philadelphia's Eric Lindros
is the captain But Roy's selection was one of the most eagerly expected and most prestigious.
He is expected to start for the Canadian team, which will be coached by Marc Crawford. New
Jersey's Martin Brodeur and Edmonton's Curtis Joseph are the other goalies. Finally, despite
a legendary career in which he won two Stanley Cups for Canada's most prestigious team, Roy gets
to represent his country in international competition. Roy was asked to compare what it will be
like going for the gold, as opposed to one of the three Stanley Cups he's won. "That's a tough
question, but I think I'll prepare myself the same way" Roy said. "It may be easier to tell you when
I'm there. Right now, I just want to keep the focus on my team and play well and hard until then."
Crawford said Roy received no preferential consideration from the head coach. "Patrick didn't need
to have any input," Crawford said. "He's the best goalie in the game right now." He was an
obvious choice, I felt, for Team Canada." It was no less an honor for Sakic and Foote to be chosen
to represent Canada. They both played for their home country during last year's World Cup -
but this is the Olympics. Roy was snubbed by the World Cup selection committee, headed
up by Edmonton general manager Glen Sather. Roy has since made life hellish for Sather's Oilers,
and nobody wanted to make the mistake of not selecting him again. "There's no doubt, in hindsight,
sure, he should have been there," Crawford said. "But he wasn't. We had to just deal with it . . .
but we made three wise choices this year."
By Adrian Dater
Denver Post Sports Writer
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