1.   Although Fetisov is respected in many hockey circles, he has rivals within Russian hockey circles.

2.   Agents, still considered by some here as pillaging Russian hockey, are sometimes threatened, too.

3.   All good Russian hockey players now make a living in North America, and no one need arrange a defection in order to do so.

4.   All have criticized how Russian hockey is being run.

5.   But a political power struggle in the Russian hockey bureaucracy helped convince him that he would be better off in North America.

6.   But it has nothing, zero, zilch, or nada to do with the game we will see Friday, especially if you are a Russian hockey player.

7.   Fetisov was coach and general manager of the Russian hockey team that won a bronze medal at the Salt Lake Winter Olympics in February.

8.   For years, NHL general managers viewed Russian hockey players as most do lottery tickets.

9.   For years, the popular speculation was that Russian hockey, Chinese gymnastics and American sprinters were unbeatable.

10.   GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Just imagine serving breakfast to the Russian hockey team, lunch to U.S. figure skater Michelle Kwan or dinner to a downhill racer.