Brett Hull

Hockey

Never mind what Brett Hull said a week ago about dreading the Olympic experience. Now, the St. Louis Blues’ star can’t wait.

“I was just having fun with you guys,” Hull told reporters. “Nobody seems to understand it.”

Hull still wasn’t excited about the 14-hour flight. But he’d softened on one of his complaints, the spartan accommodations.

When the Blues are at home, he likes to go home, plop on the couch and watch TV.

“I’ll miss things like that, being able to go through 80 channels,” Hull said. “That’s why they invented books and crossword puzzles and CD players and … beer.”

Hull planned to offset the lack of creature comforts by immersing himself in the Olympic experience. He’s looking forward to seeing downhill skiing and luge.

“I’m just going to go in with a wide-eyed, open mind, and just enjoy everything,” Hull said. “I want to go see the skiing because I don’t think you can get an appreciation for it watching on TV.”

He already has an appreciation for the skill level.

“I’ve skiied before, but I couldn’t imagine going 100 mph,” he said.

He was looking ahead to playing hockey on the wider Olympic surface, which puts more of an emphasis on skating ability and should cut down on the hooking and holding that Hull has complained about all season.

“I’m looking forward to playing that style of hockey,” he said. “That’s me, over there. It’s wide open. It’s freewheeling.

It’s going to be great.”

Hull doesn’t know what to think of Team USA’s chances. He is convinced it won’t be just a United States vs. Canada showdown.

“I’d say we’re in a dead heat with every other team that you would consider capable of winning,” Hull said. “I don’t think anyone has an advantage.”

Hull later gave the U.S. a slight edge because it’s nearly the same team that beat Canada in the 1996 World Cup.