Hanlon proud
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ByEurosport
Published 08/05/2006 at 20:57 GMT
Belarus coach Glen Hanlon had mixed feelings when his side lost 3-2 to Russia at the world championship on Monday. The former NHL goaltender from Canada works behind the Belarus bench here but his main job is coaching the Washington Capitals and their roo
ICE HOCKEY 2005-2006 NHL Dallas-Washington Ovechkin
Image credit: Reuters
Besides 20-year-old Ovechkin, who set a team record of 52 goals in his first season with the Capitals, Hanlon also had Alexander Semin, 22, to worry about.
Hanlon will have both Russians in the Capitals' uniform next season after Semin agreed to return to Washington following a bitter contract dispute last year.
"It's a complicated feeling when I watch them play for another team," said Hanlon after Russia recorded their second victory in two games.
"Obviously as Belarus coach, my job today was to stop them (from scoring) but of course, I'm happy to see them do well here."
Both Ovechkin and Semin notched hat-tricks in Russia's 10-1 demolition of Kazakhstan in their opener on Saturday but they had a quiet game on Monday.
Ovechkin, a leading candidate for the Calder Trophy as the NHL best rookie this year, finished the game with a meagre three shots and two penalty minutes while Semin did not register a shot on goal.
Semin played for the Capitals during the 2003-04 season but was suspended by them after failing to report to the team the following season.
Washington filed a lawsuit against him and his agent where they sought an injunction to bar Semin from playing in Russia, but a judge tossed out the suit and said arbitration was the proper method to settle the case.
"I've talked to both of them last night after trenirovka (training)," Hanlon said, mixing a few Russian words with his English. "I wished them good luck but was hoping they would do well in other games, not against us.
"Tonight, I just prayed that both of them would stay injury free," he added with a smile.
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