At a news conference Monday in Calgary, Hockey Canada announced that Steve Yzerman will return as Team Canada GM for the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. They also announced the full management staff that will be led by Yzerman, who is currently the general manager for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Edmonton Oilers president Kevin Lowe, Detroit Red Wings general manger Ken Holland, St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong, Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson and Hockey Canada vice-president Brad Pascall were also announced as part of the Team Canada management staff.
"The opportunity to work with Hockey Canada again is something I'm really excited about," Yzerman said. "I really, really enjoyed the experience in the past, and really look forward to the next few years. And hopefully all goes well and the National Hockey League players will be participating in Sochi as well."
Like Wayne Gretzky before him, Yzerman will run the team in back-to-back Olympics. Below is what Gretzky texted to ESPN.com
"Right guy for the job, great choice."
I wouldn't agree more with Wayne Gretzky. From now on, Yzerman should be the only choice for Team Canada because no one has his determination and his actions that helped Canada beat the US in the Vancouver Olympics just a few years ago. Yzerman, like Gretzky, knows how to put together a winning team and it's going to be interesting to see how Yzerman manages to put together this team again in time for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Yzerman is always a perfect choice for any team, but being the GM of Team Canada is truly a fantastic job and one that's worth praise, since he has been able to put together winning Olympic teams. Team Canada is proud to have this guy on board, and the hockey world should be proud of the job he is doing for the hockey world and especially for Team Canada and Canada itself.
