Cleary gets the call HOCKEY Riverhead, Harbour Grace native invited to Olympic summer camp BRENDAN MCCARTHY The Telegram

Dan Cleary is one of 25 forwards and the only member of the Detroit Red Wings invited to Team Canada’s summer Olympic orientation camp. — Canadian Press file photo

Dan Cleary didn't hear the phone ring. He was on the 16th fairway at the Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield, Mich., on Wednesday when the call came in and club rules are that cellphones must be in quiet mode on the golf course.

But he had head the phone vibrate and when he checked it and saw who the message was from, a shiver went down his back and a smile curled on his face.

"It was from Steve Yzerman and I had one of those moments where you know exactly what it was about even though you haven't actually seen it yet," said Cleary, the 30-year-old Riverhead, Harbour Grace native and Detroit Red Wings forward.

His instincts were right. Yzerman, the executive director for Canada's 2010 Olympic men's hockey team, was calling to inform his former Red Wings teammate that he was among 46 players being invited to the Team Canada's summer orientation camp, which will be held in Calgary from Aug. 24 to 27. The names were announced Thursday, the day after after Yzerman had completed his calls.

The team will be selected in December, with 23 players named to the roster for the Winter Olympics, to be held in Vancouver in February

"How do you describe how you feel? I'm not sure I can, because it's still sinking in," said Cleary. "I can tell you it's a huge honour. I'm pretty proud. You look at the players who have been invited and its a helluva group.

"I remember when I first read the (alphabetical) list of forwards and it began with (Jeff) Carter, Cleary and (Sidney) Crosby and I just stopped there and thought, wow!"

While there had been some talk that Cleary might be among the invitees, particularly because of his all-around abilities, he himself had never really considered himself a contender for a berth in the camp.

"Of course you might think about it a little bit, but then you dismiss it," said Cleary. "I had people some telling me they thought I'd get invited to camp, but to tell you the truth, I thought they were BS-ing me.

"I know there are guys on that list who probably didn't need to get a phone call to know they were going. I was one of those guys who really had no idea it was coming, and that actually makes it better."

During a conference call Thursday, Yzerman hinted the decision to invite Cleary wasn't actually made until the Team Canada management group met with the Olympic coaching staff - headed up by Red Wings' head coach Mike Babcock - during the NHL draft last weekend in Montreal.

"The way (Cleary is) used in Detroit, he plays all three forward positions. He's used in both power play and penalty killing. He goes from playing on the top line down to playing on a checking line, the third line," Yzerman said.

"A versatile guy that had a very, very good playoffs. After speaking with the coaching staff ... we felt that he was one that was deserving of an invite."

But as overwhelmed as he was to learn he was being given a berth, he is determined not to be overwhelmed when he arrives in camp.

"You've got to believe you belong. And even though I was honestly surprised when Stevie called, there are obviously people who believe in my abilities and I believe in them, too," said Cleary.

"That's an outstanding group of players going to this camp, but I've played against those guys and I've been playing directly across from many of them, especially in the last two Stanley Cup playoffs.

"I'll be a little nervous, I'll be very excited, but I won't be intimidated."

bmcc@thetelegram.com

CAMP INTERFERES WITH SCHOOL

If you want proof of how little Dan Cleary had in the way of expectation of an invitation to the Canadian Olympic hockey orientation camp, all you had to do was check out the dates of his summer hockey school at the Jack Byrne Arena in Torbay, scheduled for the same week of the Team Canada gathering.
"We're trying to find a way to sort it out, but I can't say for certain what we can or will be able to do (regarding the schedule conflict)," said Cleary. "I'm not sure if we can change dates. I do know a decision is going to have to be made very quickly. I just hope that whatever happens, the kids and parents will understand."