Czechs list winning for Hlinka their goal
TORONTO -- It may be Canada's game -- with an emphasis on may -- but the Czechs like their chances. They've got former Bruin Rosie Ruzicka behind their bench, in the dual role of good-guy coach/good luck charm, and they have the hope of Jaromir Jagr playing at close to full speed.
For a best-of-seven series, Stanley Cup-style, Ruzicka's rogues might be stretched a little thin on talent. But tonight it's one game against Team Canada, for the right to play in Tuesday night's World Cup of Hockey final.
Over the course of 60 minutes -- maybe a little more, if necessary -- anything is possible. No matter what a full house of crazed Canadians will be thinking when they take their seats at the
Ruzicka, captain of the Czech squad that won the gold medal at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, wasn't originally slotted as the head coach. But the recent death of Ivan Hlinka, killed in a car accident only hours after persuading Jagr to play in the tournament, forced the gregarious Ruzicka into emergency duty.
"He was a hero in our country," said Ruzicka. "What we do in this tournament, we do to honor his memory."
The Czechs, perhaps emotionally wrought, appeared destined for an early KO in this dressed-up version of the old Canada Cup. They lost to the Finns -- who last night beat the Americans, 2-1, in St. Paul -- and then spotted the Swedes four goals in the qualifying round. Prior to arriving here, they blistered the talented Swedes, 6-1, for a berth in the semifinals.
Team Canada, still on a high from winning the 2002 Olympic gold at Salt Lake City, carries a 4-0 record into tonight.
Bruins captain Joe Thornton hasn't been a go-to pivot thus far, with the likes of Joe Sakic and Mario Lemieux still on the watch, but he has been effective and more of a force as the tournament has evolved. Coach Pat Quinn initially toyed with the idea of sitting Thornton at the start of the tournament. But the former No. 1 overall draft pick showed some impressive speed against the Slovaks Wednesday night, and that might persuade Quinn to add to his minutes tonight.
Tuesday night's championship game portends to be the last glimpse of NHLers on duty for some time.
The collective bargaining agreement expires the following day, and the sides on Thursday essentially threw up their hands following a last-ditch proposal from the Players' Association to strike a deal.
The players, in Thursday's proposal, added a revenue-sharing element. But the owners flatly rejected the offer, maintaining there won't be a deal until the players agree to some form of cost certainty (i.e. a salary cap).
The NHL's Board of Governors, including Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, will meet in Manhattan Wednesday, when it is expected the long-awaited lockout will be formally triggered.
Training camps are scheduled to open on Thursday, but it is now a fait accompli that camps will be, at best, postponed.
