Catholic hockey coach feels blessed to be in third Olympics

Published: 2006-02-08

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CNS) -- Peter Laviolette knows that at the 2006 Winter Olympics he'll be experiencing a privilege few people attain: Already a two-time Olympic competitor, he gets another chance to bring home the gold, this time as head coach of the U.S. men's Olympic ice hockey team. "I think you're lucky to go to the Olympics once, privileged to go twice and blessed to go three times," said Laviolette, a Catholic who also coached Team USA at the 2004 and 2005 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships. He made the comments in a telephone interview with The Colorado Catholic Herald, diocesan newspaper in Colorado Springs, where USA Hockey is based. USA Hockey is the governing body for ice hockey in the United States. "You wonder how many more times you have after three," he added. Laviolette played on the 1988 U.S. Olympic team in Calgary, Alberta, and captained the 1994 squad that competed in Lillehammer, Norway. This year's Winter Olympics take place Feb. 10-26 in Turin, Italy.

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