Gleason waits for his Olympic call

RALEIGH -- The Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal, Tuomo Ruutu and Joni Pitkanen have been chosen to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and will get their shots at a gold medal.

Can defenseman Tim Gleason make it a foursome?

The Olympic roster for Team USA will be announced today, and Gleason hopes his name will be called. He attended the U.S. Olympic orientation camp in August and has put together a solid, productive season for the Canes.

"I think my chances are 50-50," Gleason said. "I've think I've played well enough ... to make them think twice or whatever the case is.

"If that's the case, obviously I'd be honored to do so. If not, then that's the way she goes. You get 10 days off."

After going to the Team USA camp in Chicago, Gleason said he came away believing the selection committee was leaning toward younger players for this Olympics. He said there was much talk of the U.S. team that stunned everyone and won gold in the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, N.Y.

"On that 1980 team, there were a lot of young no-namers, a young team," said Gleason, a Clawson, Mich., native. "I think they're kind of going toward that route.

"I'm sure they'll have a few veterans as well. At the same time, I think they're going to go a little younger and be a surprise team."

Gleason is 26. Asked if that rated as old or young, he laughed.

"I feel old," he said. "But I don't know if 26 is old in this league. On that team, I think it would be closer to the older side of things.

"So I don't know. I'm guessing they'll go a bit younger, so we'll see."

Staal will play for Team Canada in Vancouver, and Ruutu and Pitkanen for Finland. Canes coach Paul Maurice said Gleason deserves to go with Team USA - for his play, for the intangibles.

In a Dec. 11 game against the Washington Capitals, Gleason took a puck in the face, was stitched up and returned to score a shorthanded goal to tie the score. It would have been hard for Brian Burke, general manager of Team USA, and U.S. coach Ron Wilson not to have noticed.

"I'm a huge Gleason fan for old-time hockey players," Maurice said. "He's heart and soul. I think this year he's shown an offensive side to his game. I think Timmy Gleason is really coming into his own as a player and a leader."