Yzerman to construct Team Canada for 2010 Olympics

By Steve Keating

DETROIT (Reuters) - Detroit Red Wings vice-president Steve Yzerman was handed the task of assembling the Canadian men's hockey team for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics when he was named Team Canada executive director on Saturday.

Yzerman takes over from Canadian hockey icon Wayne Gretzky, who headed up Canada's efforts at the 2006 Turin and 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games.

"I'm really excited about the opportunity," Yzerman told reporters during a conference call. "I would stress to everyone what a great challenge we have ahead of us...

"The tremendous players around the world... by no means because we're playing on home ice is a gold medal a lock.

"Our goal is to obviously win a gold medal and we'll do everything we can as a group to assemble an outstanding coaching staff and an outstanding team."

Hockey Canada also announced at a news conference in Ottawa that Detroit general manager Ken Holland and Edmonton Oilers president Kevin Lowe will serve as associate directors.

ADVISORY ROLE

St. Louis Blues assistant general manager Doug Armstrong will be director of player personnel while Gretzky, coach and co-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, will take an advisory role.