Team USA has few questions

HOCKEY:A veteran-laden U.S. squad makes final adjustments in preparation for next week's World Cup.

BY NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Brett Hull hates training camp. Always has, always will.

"It's terrible," he said.

Still, he seems upbeat as Team USA prepares for the World Cup of Hockey -- and not just because he realizes this might be the last time we see NHL players on the ice for a while, with a lockout looming.

The Americans opened training camp at Nationwide Arena on Friday and defeated Canada 3-1 in an exhibition there Monday night.

They have two more exhibitions -- against Canada in Ottawa on Wednesday night, against Russia at Nationwide on Friday night -- before opening the tournament against Canada in Montreal on Aug. 31.

"This is fun," Hull said. "You're playing with the best in the world against the best in the world. Go out and have some fun."

If there is a relaxed feel, it might be because the players are so familiar with one another. About half the team has been together for years -- from the 1996 World Cup (a championship), to the 1998 Nagano Games (a disaster, from a sixth-place finish to room-trashing), to the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics (a silver medal).

There is still business to do, though.

Coach Ron Wilson has to figure out his forward lines and defensive pairings. For instance, will he put Hull back with buddy and former Dallas teammate Mike Modano?

A captain needs to be named. Wilson raved about Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios, who was Captain America at Nagano and Salt Lake. But he said he had a "leadership group" of seven players and would hand out the "C" before the opener.

"We want everything to sort of settle down," he said. "We'll decide who the on-ice leader is based on how things develop throughout training camp and the exhibition games."

But the biggest question mark for the Americans is in goal. Mike Richter has retired, leaving Ty Conklin, Rick DiPietro and Robert Esche as possible replacements.

"It's wide open for our goaltending," Wilson said.

And when Wilson makes a decision, it won't necessarily be final.

"Whoever is our starting goalie in Montreal or as we move forward, we'll be very flexible," Wilson said. "It'll be the guy we think can help us win that night, and we're confident in all three."

Esche led the Philadelphia Flyers to within one game of the Stanley Cup finals last season. Conklin led Team USA to the bronze medal at the world championships and was named the tournament's top goaltender. DiPietro was the first goaltender picked No. 1 overall in the NHL entry draft when the New York Islanders took him in 2000.

Hull has some advice for the lesser experienced players.

"Make sure you go out and have fun, enjoy the experience," he said. "Talk to the guys. There's not a lot of times when you get to go out and play with Chris Chelios and Brian Leetch in front of you."