Lot #37: Historical & Collectible Commemorative Coin Player Images - Vintage 1998 NHL Team Canada "Nagano Japan Olympic Winter Games"

The 199798 Canada men's national ice hockey team represented Canada at the 1998 Winter Olympics held in Nagano, Japan.Canada's team, coached by Marc Crawford, placed fourth in the Olympic tournament.History1998 marked the first time the modern NHL paused its season to allow players to compete in the Olympics, enabling countries to field professional teams of the highest calibre. Team Canada's Olympic roster was selected by Bobby Clarke, who was then general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers. Eric Lindros was named captain over longtime leaders such as Wayne Gretzky, Steve Yzerman, and Ray Bourque. Rob Zamuner was a surprise pick, while Mark Messier, Ron Francis, Adam Oates, and Scott Niedermayer were omitted.Clarke was joined in management by assistant general managers Bob Gainey and Pierre Gauthier.The coaching staff was led by head coach Marc Crawford of the Colorado Avalanche. He was joined by associate coach Andy Murray, assistant coaches Wayne Cashman and Mike Johnston, and video coach Rob Cookson. Murray, Johnston, and Cookson all had prior experience with Canada's full-time national team and the larger International Ice Hockey Federation rink surface.The Canadian team, despite a strong start in the round robin, failed to win a medal, losing 3 - 2 to Finland in the bronze medal game.