Peter Laviolette said goodbye to 39 American hockey players, hoping some of what he taught them would stick in their minds for five more months.
If not, he'll have one practice in February to get them familiar with the system he'll use right away in the 2006 Olympic Games.
Laviolette presided over a scrimmage Thursday that concluded the U.S. Olympic hockey orientation camp. The three-day get-together gave USA Hockey the opportunity to look at the group that will largely make up the team that heads to Turin, Italy.
Only 23 players get to go, and some who weren't invited to camp will get a fair chance to earn a roster spot once the NHL season gets going next month.
During the course of two practices and one pickup game, Laviolette tried to explain the way he wants the team to play in the two-week Olympic tournament. He doesn't expect players to remember the system, even though he aimed to keep things simple.
"I think it's just trying to put in the nuts and bolts," Laviolette said. "It's hard to pay attention to detail at this point.
"You have a bunch of guys from a bunch of different places, playing a bunch of different ways. You have to somehow corral them and try to bring them in as one. We didn't accomplish that here this week, but we did give them the information how we're going to try to do that."
When they pulled off their white and blue jerseys with USA across the front, they headed straight to the airport to rejoin their NHL teams that open training camps next week.
"My point to them was before any of them can win a Stanley Cup they get a chance to win a gold medal," Laviolette said. "So you have to prepare for that."
But Laviolette admitted that once he boarded his flight home later Thursday his thoughts and commitment would immediately switch to the Carolina Hurricanes — the team he coaches full time.
The Olympic hockey tournament couldn't be more different now than it was 26 years ago when Herb Brooks led a group of college kids to the greatest upset in the history of the sport — the last time the United States skated off with the gold medal.
That team had six months together to train, learn a system, go over it in practices and exhibition games, and become a family. For many, the gold-medal victory over Finland was the last organized hockey game they'd play.
Whoever makes this team will play NHL games until the day before they fly to Italy. Laviolette and his coaches plan to meet with players during the six-hour trip, not wanting to waste a minute of prep time.
Upon arrival, there will be one day for the team to get reacquainted and get a single practice in. The following night, it all happens for real against Latvia.
"This will be challenging for everybody," Laviolette said. "Ultimately, I think the team that pulls it together and plays the best team hockey, the best team concept — whatever that concept is — will have the best chance of being successful."
Once it's over, everyone will return to everyday life in the NHL.
Even though there won't be any miracle finishes or Earth-rattling upsets, the Olympics still hold a unique place in the hearts of hockey players.
"Anytime you wear the jersey, whether it's practice or the world championships or the Olympics, it's a special thing," St. Louis forward Doug Weight said.
New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro is reminded of it whenever he returns to Winthrop, Mass., the hometown he shares with 1980 U.S. Olympic captain Mike Eruzione.
Eruzione's third-period goal was the winner in the United States' shocking semifinal victory over the Soviet Union that paved the way to gold.
"Anytime you walk around the corner, all you ever hear about is Mike and the '80 Olympic team," DiPietro said. "This group of guys, we have a strong feeling of pride in playing for our country."
Laviolette made it to two Olympics as a player, before NHLers started going to the games in 1998. His squads never got close to any medal.
Brooks took over as coach again for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and guided the United States to the silver. The late coach grumbled over the lack of practice time before the tournament but still worked his magic and helped the Americans to their first top three finish since his "Miracle on Ice" team.
Now this mixture of veterans and youngsters that came to camp wants to get back to the top of the podium.
"We're trying to do something that hasn't been done in 26 years," Laviolette said. "We need to dream about that at night."
