U.S. veteran on outside looking in

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VANCOUVER -- Cammi Granato still struggles to make peace with the reality that she will be analyzing the U.S. women's hockey team for NBC instead of leading it when the Olympics begin.

Granato, 34, the face of the U.S. women's program for more than a decade, was cut from the U.S. squad Aug. 25 by coach Ben Smith. She concedes she isn't over the shock.

"Right now it's as hard as it has ever been," she told USA TODAY. "My emotions go up and down, and right now my emotions are running high because I know what the players are going through. You work four years to get to this point. This is the most exciting time to be a female hockey player because the Olympics are coming."

She keeps in contact with several players on the U.S. team, but she says she doesn't talk about her situation: "I don't want to bring any negativity into what they are doing."

The controversy probably will follow the team to Torino next month because Granato was the most visible player in the sport. Players will continue to be asked about missing Granato, who was a major contributor on the gold medal team in 1998 and the silver medal team in 2002. Smith said he cut Granato because he felt other players were playing at a higher level. Granato disagrees with that assessment.

"The equation involves two people who I care very much about and have tremendous faith in," USA Hockey executive director Dave Ogrean said. "That makes mending the fences more problematic. Together, they have helped build a historic program. Now they don't agree on a very important issue, and they are two people I have tremendous respect and admiration for."

Ogrean wants Granato to be involved in the USA Hockey program in some capacity as it moves forward.

"Things have to be mended because I wasn't treated well," Granato said. "It just came down the wrong way. It was a four-day camp six months out (from the Olympics). If they wanted to give me a chance, they could have given me a chance."

The camp was followed by the Four Nations Cup tournament, and Granato is left wishing that Smith would have said to her, "'This is your last chance. Show me what you can do.'"

Granato hasn't skated since she was cut, but she hasn't officially retired.

"I would hate to go down this way, but who knows?" Granato said. "I'm completely honest when I say I don't know if I am going to play again."

Smith is in his third Olympics as head coach, and his future in the program is unknown. Does the fact Granato hasn't officially retired mean she might try to regain her spot in the national program if Smith decides to leave?

Granato repeats that she simply doesn't know right now. "But I am only 34," she said. "And NHL players play well beyond that."

Granato lives in Vancouver with her husband, Ray Ferraro, the former NHL player who also will be an NBC analyst. The 2010 Olympics are in Vancouver.

"Any post-Torino decisions will be made post-Torino," Ogrean said. "We have an open tryout process.

"There is nothing that would prevent us from wanting to put together the best team for us to win. I think we did that this time, but that's where the disagreement comes in."

Granato hasn't ruled out coaching. Ogrean laments that not many women's hockey pioneers have entered the coaching ranks to pass along their expertise, though 1998 U.S. Olympian Alana Blahoski is an assistant on this team. Ogrean said he "would love to see Cammi get into coaching."

"She has two brothers coaching in the NHL, and Cammi has a lot of experience and expertise that could serve her well in that role," Ogrean said.

Brothers Tony (Colorado Avalanche) and Don (St. Louis Blues) are NHL assistants, and Tony had coached the Avalanche.

Before she makes any decisions, Granato is concentrating on her NBC work, which includes reporting work at NHL games. She has previous media experience, having worked as a radio analyst for Los Angeles Kings games.

Although Granato would like to be playing, she thinks she will handle her duties without her emotions getting in her way. "As hard as it is to watch, I know those girls," she said. "They are like sisters to me. I've been in that locker room. I know what's going on in there. I know the pulse of the team.

"It seems natural to me to be able (to analyze) what they are doing. I think I can offer a lot (on TV)."

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