TURIN, Italy (CP) -Wayne Gretzky is Team Canada's leader and that's why his presence at the Winter Olympics was never in doubt, says the president of Hockey Canada.
"We need him here," Bob Nicholson said Friday. "He's the guy that's going to make sure that everything is in place."
Nicholson said he had numerous phone calls with Gretzky over the last few days to discuss the NHL gambling scandal but insisted the idea of the Hall of Famer skipping the Games never once came up.
"We had a lot of chats on the situation but it never entered the discussion," said Nicholson, who hired Gretzky in 2001 to lead the men's team. "He thought he should be here and I certainly want him here."
Gretzky is slated to arrive with the players Tuesday, when he'll likely hold a news conference. His presence may lead to a media circus but it won't harm the team, according to Nicholson.
"You know what, Wayne has dealt with the media before," said Nicholson. "He's made it very clear where he is in this situation (the gambling investigation). He has not been involved. So there's no reason for Wayne not to be here. If Wayne didn't come, that's not right.
"We want Wayne Gretzky to be here. The players will look after their situation and the management will manage."
Gretzky confirmed Thursday night in Phoenix that he intended to be in Italy. The Canadian Olympic Committee also reiterated Friday that it supported Gretzky making the trip.
"Mr. Gretzky I believe, spoke clearly and directly and succinctly last evening (Thursday) and said he's getting on a plane for Torino on Sunday and I look forward to his arrival," said COC president Michael Chambers. "It doesn't compromise any ethical standard or Olympic standard. My understanding is there's no evidence that any Olympians have been involved in any immoral conduct, whether it's gambling, if one can describe it as that, or anything else.
"Mr. Gretzky is very capable of dealing with this story on his own accord and we see nothing in this story that requires any Olympic response."
Nicholson has been hit with a firestorm over the last few days. From Gretzky being embroiled in the gambling controversy to one of Canada's preliminary roster players, Jose Theodore, testing positive for banned substance, hockey has taken some lumps in recent days.
But Nicholson insists it's not that bad.
"Not at all. Those are some distractions that are there but our key is to make sure that we continue to move forward," said a calm and collected Nicholson. "We've been through the Olympics before, we always know that there's a lot of media attention. And we're just going to make sure that we keep our focus on preparing the players."
Theodore isn't on the Olympic roster and Nicholson said he wasn't 100 per cent sure but he believed all 26 players on Team Canada had been tested over the last few months.
"We've done a very good job educating our players at any time that they put on the Canadian jersey and we'll continue to do that," he said. "Something could happen in the future but I feel that we've done a very good job of making sure everyone has been educated and will be fine here at the Olympics."
As for Gretzky, Nicholson is confident it's the right decision to have him here next week despite what appears to be a story that is unfolding rapidly from day to day.
"When I left North America I had a very positive conversation with Wayne and I also had a very good conversation with (NHL deputy commissioner) Bill Daly and I certainly got back information for us just to move forward and that everything at that time would be fine for Team Canada," Nicholson said.
"I had a great conversation with Wayne as I jumped on the plane to come to Torino. Wayne's excited, he's really excited about coming to Torino and leading the men's team."
Daly confirmed the league would not intervene.
"We're three days into a comprehensive investigation," he said via e-mail Friday. "We're certainly not in a position, nor will we seek to, preclude anyone's participation in the Olympics at this point in time."
The players gain from Gretzky's presence, Nicholson said. He takes pressure off them.
"I think quietly everyone looks up to him," said Nicholson. "Wayne Gretzky has been the leader of the last number of years of the men's team. We won gold in Salt Lake City, we won gold in the World Cup, and we're looking to capture gold here again."
In other words, it's business as usual as far as Hockey Canada is concerned.
"I'm excited to watch the women practise here today, they're well prepared," said Nicholson. "And we're going to be prepared when the men land."