We’re No. 7? Not quite the chant the U.S. hockey crowd was hoping for in the Olympics.
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That’s what the Americans were left with Thursday after a 5-3 loss to the Czech Republic, second defeat in as many nights. They’ll play Saturday against Germany. With their record at 1-3-3, another loss will guarantee them eighth place-worst finish in the Olympics by the U.S.
“I don’t know what else we could’ve done,” said U.S. coach Tim Taylor. “We played the stiffest schedule (60 games). We traveled to Europe three times. We were as prepared as we could be for what we were going to face here.”
Bring on the pros.
With NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman a spectator here the first week, the dismal U.S. showing-and potential damage to TV ratings-almost certainly will mean a “Dream Team” concept in 1998 in Nagano, Japan.
Most likely, there will be a two-tiered, eight-nation tournament with traditional powers using their NHL stars to fill six roster slots. At a lower level, a qualifying tournament would contribute the final teams.
“I think there are some major hurdles that have to be overcome for a `dream tournament’ to take place,” said Taylor. “My opinion is that I think Olympic athletes should be athletes who dedicate themselves to performing their best when they get to the Games.
“It should not be an exercise in some sort of vacation from their regular season to come over here and play.”