WOODRIDGE, Ill. -- Something about this seems all wrong: The coach and the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, supposedly Canada's team, are the coach and the general manager of Team USA for the coming Winter Olympics.
But if you ask Ron Wilson and Brian Burke there is no place they would rather be.
They are not necessarily alone in this geographical conundrum. Mike Babcock and Steve Yzerman, coach and high-level executive with the Detroit Red Wings, arguably America's team, are the coach and general manager for Team Canada at the Vancouver Games. Geography and irony aside, Babcock and Yzerman are thrilled with their Olympic lots.
There is one significant difference in the juxtaposition of the senior staff: Both teams will begin their Olympic orientation camps talking gold medal. One of them has a realistic shot at it.
"We're going to the Olympics to win," said Burke, believing every word of it. "That's our mindset. That's one of the things we're establishing here from Day 1. I told the guys" 'If you don't think we can win, you can get out now.' "
That's really what this three-day orientation session here is all about. It's not really about identifying players: Burke and his staff have four months to pick their team. It's about having the players meet each other. It's about exposure to the Olympic tournament and all it means. Over the three days here, the American players will hear from Wilson, from Burke, from two members of the 1980 Miracle On Ice team, and from two American war heroes who can speak about what it means to fight for their country.
"There are 34 players here," Wilson said. "I've coached 15 of them in various tournaments. I want to get to know these guys and I want them to get to know who I am. I'm not what the Toronto media says I am."
Whatever that is. Some truths about this American collection of players: One, the U.S. has won just one medal in Olympic men's hockey since the Miracle team -- 1-for-7 since 1980. Two, this is as young and unproven a U.S. collection in years with the usual suspects other than Mike Modano either retired or not invited to this camp; Three, with Tim Thomas and Ryan Miller in goal, the Americans can be as strong as anybody in the tournament.
"If you look back at the last several Olympics, the team with the best goaltender has always won," Wilson said. "I like our goaltending a lot."
In fact, Wilson likes every-thing about this coaching assignment. He was Team USA coach for one of the greatest moments in American hockey, the 1996 World Cup champion, and in charge for one of the most dubious, the 1998 Olympic Village trashers in Nagano.
"After '98, I wasn't sure I'd get another shot," Wilson said. "I'm truly honoured to have the opportunity to coach the Leafs and have one of my best friends, if not my best friend, as my boss. But to get this opportunity to do this, and to do it with your best friend, I'm living the dream.
"Sometimes you wonder if it wasn't a grand plan set in motion by Lou Lamoriello in 1973. Bobby Nicholson (of Hockey Canada) was in the same class at Providence as Brian and I. He left after one year." And here they are 36 years later, competing against each other at the Olympics.
That aside, Wilson knows there will be much resentment about his Olympic involvement from rabid Maple Leafs fans, especially if things don't go well with the Leafs.
"I'm going to hear it all year," said Wilson, as head coach of the beloved Leafs and the hated Americans.
At least until February, he will.
