WEST VALLEY CITY ? Joe Sakic has won the World Championships, drunk from the Stanley Cup and been adorned with an Olympic gold medal.
As if being one of only 13 hockey players ever to accomplish that Triple Crown wasn't enough, the reigning NHL MVP was named the most valuable player of the 2002 Olympic hockey tournament Sunday.
Does Canada have a Disneyland for him to go to?
Sakic is actually headed back to meet up with his NHL team, the Colorado Avalanche, this week. But, really, can anything possibly top this?
"Another Stanley Cup would be nice this year," Sakic said, grinning at the question Sunday.
If he continues to play in the NHL as he did in the 5-2 win over the United States in the championship game Sunday, the Stanley Cup might not leave the Rockies for a long while. At least not until the 32-year-old gets tired of building trophy cases for his own prizes and retires.
"Joe has a great feel of the game, as does Mario Lemieux," said U.S. coach Herb Brooks. "He has an extra sense. The intangibles he has make him a special athlete."
Sakic played a role in all but one of the Canadians' goals Sunday, including the game-winner on a big slapper from the top of the circle late in the second period. That was a back-breaker for the U.S., which had battled back to tie it only minutes earlier.
Sakic's final goal was simply salt in the Americans' wounds, coming on a breakaway with just over a minute remaining.
This helped erase some of the bitter memories Sakic and the Canadians had from 1998. He went down with a knee injury before the Canadians played the Czech Republic in the semifinals. The Czechs then won 2-1 in a shootout as Canada went without one of its sharpshooters. Sakic was sidelined when Canada then lost in the bronze-medal game to Finland.
"It's something we dreamed of four years ago, and we got another chance at it," Sakic said. "It's OK now; I have a gold medal, and that's the important thing."
Sakic was the only Canadian to be honored on the Olympic All-Star team as selected by some media members. Team USA was heavily represented, with goalie Mike Richter, forward John LeClair and defensemen Brian Leetch and Chris Chelios all named to the first team. Sweden's Mats Sundin was the other All-Star honoree.
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