Turin – They gathered Thursday, stepping with hushed tones into a locker room where sticks were stowed and a final strategy was hatched: Team USA’s escape plan.
But between chalk talks on departure times and flight routes, some players paused for an honest gaze at the somber state of American hockey 26 years after “The Miracle.”
Absent from the morning meeting was Mike Modano, the Olympic veteran who already had shared his raw feelings. He was last seen at the Turin airport Thursday morning. But like former women’s star Cammi Granato, Modano said it’s time to replace some of the “familiar faces” at USA Hockey.
Benched for the third period of Team USA’s 4-3 loss to Finland on Wednesday, Modano left the ice fuming. He said glitches over Olympic housing, travel and game tickets for the players’ families had become a distraction. And he argued that USA Hockey needs “new blood” to put the American men and women back in the gold- medal hunt.
Two of Modano’s teammates were far more diplomatic Thursday but nonetheless acknowledged flaws in the team’s overseas logistics, as well as its occasional talent shortages.
“In the end,” said forward Craig Conroy, the other teams “had better goalies, they had better scorers. They found ways to get things done, and we weren’t able to.”
Was the team distracted by family members having to scrounge for flights, game tickets and housing?
“It’s hard,” forward Doug Weight said, “but you know (this) is a great opportunity. It was an emotional night (Wednesday). … It was a tough couple weeks. I mean, I had eight people over here, and you have your children.”
At a Winter Games where the once-dominant American women donned bronze and the suddenly anemic American men mustered one win – against Kazakhstan – USA Hockey will indeed take stock, said Dave Ogrean, the organization’s executive director.
But Ogrean said that kind of rigorous self-exam would have taken place had the teams gone home with gold.
“When you’re only on a stage of this altitude every four years, you constantly – after every Games, regardless of outcome – have to sit back and re-evaluate every single thing, so the next time you can be the best you can be,” Ogrean said.
“When we finished first in 1980, it meant we were Olympic champions, it didn’t mean we were the No. 1 hockey country in the world. (The men) losing here means we aren’t playing for the semifinals. It doesn’t mean USA Hockey is not healthy.”
But the squad’s early exit in 2006 was hastened by a lack of chemistry, some players said. The 23-man roster of NHL players was hemmed together Dec. 19. All but two arrived in Italy just 48 hours before their opening faceoff against Latvia, a 3-3 tie. They had one practice together in Turin.
USA Basketball is trying to solve a similar problem. After the Athens Games, where a hastily assembled U.S. basketball team sputtered to a bronze medal, officials installed new tactics to try to take a more cohesive team to Beijing in 2008. Val Ackerman, president of USA Basketball, said the organization wants NBA players to commit to playing all major international competitions for the next three years.
But a three-year vow wouldn’t work on the ice, USA Hockey officials say.
“Basketball has a world championship that takes place when the NBA is idle (in August),” Ogrean said. “Our world championship is in May when we have the NHL playoffs, and we’re forced into a position not to take the cream of the crop. … It’s more of a cultural issue than it is a specific commitment.”
After the U.S. packed its jerseys, Ogrean took on Modano’s main complaints.
On the need for fresh faces, Ogrean said the men’s general manager, Don Waddell, and coach, Peter Laviolette, were new to those roles. Ogrean was brought back to the organization only last summer.
On travel arrangements and game access, Ogrean said: “It was not an accurate picture.” All ticket requests from the U.S. players were “fulfilled to the letter.” Families were put in touch with housing operators in Turin so they could “customize” their rooms and arrival dates. And because of the NHL’s late decision to allow participation, players across the entire Olympics – not just the Americans – booked their own flights, he said.
Modano’s gripes come after his third Olympics. Are these merely the grumbles of a pampered millionaire? Does this signal a need to return the men’s game to hungry college players in 2010 or beyond?
“I hope it doesn’t get stale for guys,” Ogrean said. “And we hope to select guys who really want to be there. And I think Mike did.”
Said Weight: “If (IOC officials) want to go with amateurs, it will still be a great tournament. The Olympics are the Olympics. So whatever they choose, I’m sure there won’t be too much fight about it.”
But other changes within the USA Hockey family seem destined. On the men’s side, the American roster will look far different in four years as a new crop of players emerges, Ogrean said. The 2006 squad was steeped in the past – 13 of the 20 skaters are over 30 years old. By the final game, they appeared tired.
“Obviously, we’re in a bit of a transition period between some veterans and a new generation of guys,” Ogrean said.
On the women’s team, coach Ben Smith may be out. Granato has lobbied for that while in Turin, saying Smith was the lone voice in the makeup of the Olympic roster. Smith cut Granato in August.
Ogrean said it is under review.
“We’re going to do that when we get back …,” he said. “There are coaches who are developing experience in women’s collegiate hockey. We have to assess who can help the program move forward.
“Ben Smith has been a tremendous asset to this women’s program,” Ogrean said. “We want other Ben Smiths (to emerge) just as we want (another) Herb Brooks.”
Staff writer Bill Briggs can be reached at 303-820-1720 or bbriggs@denverpost.com.
