TORONTO, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Wayne Gretzky and the the staff of a gold medal-winning team at the Salt Lake City Olympics will be back to run Canada's entry in next year's World Cup of Hockey.
Gretzky on Tuesday was named Team Canada executive director, Hockey Canada announced. Joining him will be Edmonton Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe as assistant executive director and Steve Tambellini of the Vancouver Canucks as director of player personnel.
The team Gretzky built ended Canada's 50-year Olympic gold medal drought, defeating the United States in the final. Six years earlier, with Gretzky participating as a player, Canada was beaten by the U.S. in the best-of-three finals at the inaugural World Cup tournament.
Scheduled to begin Aug. 30, the World Cup could be the last action involving NHL players for some time.
