Prior to Salt Lake, we were an afterthought as a winter sport nation. We had won a few medals, the highest being 13. But we really weren't considered one of the powers in the Winter Olympic Games.

We had 34 podium finishes in Salt Lake City and 75 top-eight finishes. We expect this team to do very well. We're not going to predict how many medals we might win in these games.

They're both very competitive individuals. It's an individual sport that seldom comes together as a team. We just want to make certain that they understand our position and, in moving forward, understand how their actions are viewed by others.

Salt Lake has a shot at the playoffs, and we are the team standing in their way,

After how well things went in Salt Lake, everybody really wanted to get [to the Olympics] badly. So it pressed everybody to really lift their level.

It's important that everyone feels they have a role on this team. They told me in 2002 (in Salt Lake City) I would play at least one game and I was really excited. Just to have that chance ... and hopefully these guys will feel the same way, that they'll play one game or two.