PUCK STOPS HERE

About a dozen players from the Canadian and U.S. hockey teams spent their Sunday afternoon watching Finland play Russia.

“Well, no sense watching the luge if we won’t have to play them,” U.S. center Mike Modano said.

Makes sense.

GETTING THE FULL OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE

In between practices and games, most U.S. and Canadian hockey players are enjoying the Olympic experience.

“My wife has told me to meet the figure skaters,” Mighty Duck goaltender Guy Hebert said. “I would like to see [skier] Alberto Tomba. I met him during the world championships a few years ago and he autographed a stick for me.”

Brian Leetch said he hopes to be able to see some other events when he’s not practicing. “I’d like to see the speedskating or the downhill,” he said.

Rod Brind’Amour has already met his hero.

‘I wanted to meet Wayne Gretzky,” Brind’Amour said, “and now I’ve met him and we’re rooming together [with Martin Brodeur and Steve Yzerman].”