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Czech Republic's goalie proves his worth
By Tim Buckley
Deseret News Olympic specialist
As an NHL regular, Marco Sturm knows just how good Czech Republic goalie Dominik Hasek is.
But Hasek reminded him anyway Friday night, stopping 18 of the 20 shots Germany mustered in the Czechs' 8-2 final-round men's hockey tournament game blowout.
"He's probably the best goalie in the world. . . . That's why I think (whatever) team he plays for is good," said Sturm, a San Jose Sharks vet who watched Hasek, now with the Detroit Red Wings, take Buffalo to the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals.
Playing the defending Olympic-champion Czech Republic's first game of the 2002 Winter Games, Hasek had at an easy time at The Peaks Ice Arena in Provo.
Germany, however, had anything but.
After going 3-0 in preliminary-round play and surprising everyone by qualifying for the final round, the Germans learned the hard way just how difficult it can be to take on the world's true international hockey powers.
The Czechs jumped ahead 3-0 with opening-period goals from Jaromir Jagr, Petr Sykora and Milan Hejduk, and were easily up 5-1 after two periods.
"Yes," said German forward Martin Reichel, whose brother Robert scored the Czechs' final goal. "It is a big difference. . . . They are all wonderful players, and they proved that here."
For the Czechs, who played Sweden on Sunday, it was child's play: "It was a good preparation," Jaroslav Spacek said, "for our next game."
E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com
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February 16, 2002
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