April 4, 2007
Blues president John Davidson has been impressed with what he’s seen from Wings vice president Steve Yzerman, who is also general manager for Canada at the upcoming Internatinal Ice Hockey Federation world championships.
Yzerman tabbed Blues coach Andy Murray to coach Canada on Tuesday and chose Blues defenseman Eric Brewer for one of the first few spots on the team.
Murray guided Canada to gold at the world championships in 1997 and 2003.
“Steve called me; we talked a few times,” Davidson said. “He’s doing his due diligence, no question. He’s a very thorough man. He had some options. He wanted to know our blessing, regarding letting Andy go and we certainly would.”
Davidson said Yzerman “very quietly goes about his business.
“People don’t know Steve well, because he’s a quiet guy,” Davidson said. “But he’s a very determined and hardworking individual. He can go anywhere he wants in this business. He’s not going to take it because he’s handed it. He’ll earn it and once he gets something, whatever he wants to do, he’ll be good at it.”
Canadian Press article
April 4, 2007
Steve Yzerman feels like a rookie all over again.
Two months after taking the job as Canada’s general manager for the upcoming IIHF world hockey championship, Yzerman is still getting a feel for the position.
“It’s been a real learning experience for me,” he said Tuesday night from Winnipeg. “Just in calling a hockey player and inviting him or talking to coaches and other general managers.
“Everything is new to me. A lot of these situations I’m handling for the first time.”
Fortunately, he hasn’t had to go it alone.
