Chelios to captain U.S. Olympic team

DETROIT -- Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios will captain the U.S. hockey team at the Turin Olympics, the third straight Winter Games he has been accorded the honor.

The 44-year-old Chelios will be the oldest American hockey player to compete in an Olympics, USA Hockey said Wednesday.

He and fellow 2006 Olympian Keith Tkachuk are the only two U.S. hockey players to make four Olympic squads (1984, 1998, 2002, 2006).

Chelios led the United States to a silver medal at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. The former Chicago Blackhawks player also was captain at the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan.

"We feel that Chris is not only a tremendous player, but also a terrific leader," said Don Waddell, general manager of the U.S. team. "For us to have success, Chris is going to have to be a big part of it."

Chelios' NHL career spans 22 years and features two Stanley Cups -- Montreal in 1986, Detroit in 2002.

He has won the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman three times.

"The one thing that kept coming up about Chris is his competitive nature," said Peter Laviolette, the U.S. coach. "It kept coming up over and over again: This is a guy that can help win hockey games."