Off-ice habits key to players’ orientation
Karl Alzner is a huge Steve Yzerman fan. He’s a big fan of Mike Babcock, too.
Not so much a Sidney Crosby, Eric Staal, or Steven Stamkos supporter during the National Hockey League season, though, primarily when the Washington Capitals defenceman is tasked with the near-impossible assignment of slowing them down.
But, still, being around the entire Hockey Canada staff and the other invited 46 players for a four-day orientation camp beginning Sunday in Calgary is a good introduction to the possibility of playing at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
And while many are grumbling over the fact that no hockey is actually going to be taking place during the get-together — despite having an international-sized ice at their disposal at the Markin MacPhail Centre at Calgary’s Canada Olympic Park — Alzner is perfectly fine keeping his skates off.
“I feel like, at this point of the summer, although guys have been training a ton and are in pretty good shape, I still feel like all of us are not game-ready and probably not as sharp as we would be come the season,” said Alzner, who calls Calgary home in the off-season with his wife, Mandy.
“In a way, (not skating) is a good thing because you don’t want to go out there and maybe not be on top of your game at that camp and then (Hockey Canada) has a bit of a sour taste in their mouth about you.
“So, I think it’s all right that we’re just going and getting to know everybody and hanging out.”
The NHL puts its regular season on hold Feb. 9-25 for the Olympic break while Canada opens round robin play on Feb. 13 against Norway at 10 a.m. There is lots of time between now and then, but there is plenty of work to do off the ice.
In four days, Hockey Canada plans to hold informational meetings regarding logistics, travel issues, lodging for family members and friends, a walk-through of the venues, and drug-testing policies.
“Russia is kind of a whole new world compared to what North America is like,” Edmonton Oilers captain Taylor Hall said. “Definitely, there are a lot of changes to what we’re used to. So, that’s something that Hockey Canada is going to go over with some of the athletes. I’m a single guy but I’ve heard it’s going to be a little different for some of the families that are going to travel over there.
“Whoever is on the team, I think they want to brace everyone for that.”
Team bonding is another aspect of the four days as they’ll be working out together, eating meals together, going fishing and golfing.
The group is hitting Calgary’s Canyon Meadows Golf Course on Monday while there are media availabilities scheduled for each day.
A Calgarian in the off-season, Jordan Eberle, who has been involved with Hockey Canada’s junior team and at the world championships, is also happily participating in his first Olympic camp — in whatever capacity.
“It’s exciting for me,” Eberle said. “I’m one of the younger guys there and to be around the guys I’ve been watching the past few years and played against, just to be around them and learn what their off-ice habits are.
“The biggest thing Hockey Canada is trying to get out of this, I think, is the chemistry and try to get an understanding of what to expect when you make the team and what it’s going to be like at the Olympics at Sochi.” But still, one can’t help wanting to see — even for a few days — a replacement at right wing on Sidney Crosby’s line for the departed Jarome Iginla.
Or an on-ice interaction between Chicago defencemen Duncan Keith or Brent Seabrook and any of the invited Boston forwards Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, or Patrice Bergeron. Or Roberto Luongo, who is being pushed by a new generation of top Canadian netminders.
“There are just so many good players in Canada,” Hall said. “It’s what our country does. Everyone wants to be on that team. For myself, I’m a left winger and it’s not like I’m a centremen or I have a whole lot of versatility. There’s a lot of guys that have proven themselves for more seasons in the NHL. I’m a fast player and I play pretty well on big ice.
“But it’s really going to come down to how you play at the beginning of the season.”
Each country has to insure National Hockey League Players against injury at summer camps and there always seems to be questions over insurance issues prior to each Olympic Games. The issues were resolved prior to the 2010 orientation camp and players were on the ice in the summer of 2009 were on the ice, practising and finished with an intrasquad game before a sellout crowd at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
It’s understandable from the perspective of the NHL and its Players’ Association, whose employees could be at risk should they take a slap shot in the foot, tweak a hamstring or absorb a stick in the eye at a camp designed to prepare for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.
However, this time around, Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson has said insurance would cost more than $1 million for those invited to the camp and the price tag is too high.
As such, there will be no skating when the four-day camp kicks off on Sunday. “You know what, it’s going to be fun,” said Hall, the youngest player on the roster who turns 22 in November. “It’s too bad we’re not going on the ice.
“At the same time, it’s going to be good to be around the guys, guys that might be on your team. And I think it’s important for guys to do that.
“I think Hockey Canada wants everyone to understand what is in store in Sochi, the drug-testing protocols and all of that. I think it’s important for everyone to get there and understand what’s going on.”
Alzner hadn’t heard of any rogue groups planning their own ice-times, either.
“No, not one bit,” said the 24-yearold, who played in the Western Hockey League with the Calgary Hitmen and spent two years on the Canadian junior team, captaining it once. “I heard (the issue) is about insurance. I don’t know exactly what they mean, what kind of insurance, or what the deal is with that … but if that’s the case, I’m not going to be asking any questions.
“I don’t think a player should even worry about that, anyways. Whatever they decide to do is fine with me. The season is the main tryout, the main test for all the guys to try to make it. I don’t think it’s a big deal.”