NHL: Detroit Red Wings at Chicago Blackhawks - Source: Imagn — Former hockey defenseman Chris Chelios - Source: Imagn

"Certain conduct by a few members of our team was inexcusable": When Chris Chelios apologized to 1998 Winter Olympics organizers with a $3000 check

Modified Dec 24, 2024 10:57 GMT

NHL legend Chris Chelios once sent an apology letter and a $3000 check to Japanese Olympic officials to cover the damages his teammates caused following Team USA's elimination in the knockout round of the 1998 Winter Olympics.

The 1996 Hockey World Cup champions, Team USA, were expected to dominate with their roster led by Chicago Blackhawks captain Chris Chelios and other NHL stars. However, they delivered a disappointing performance, winning only one game (against Belarus) out of their three preliminary games.

Team USA was abruptly eliminated from the tournament after losing 4-1 to the Czech Republic in the first knockout game. However, the events that unfolded after the elimination shocked hockey and prompted captain Chris Chelios to issue an apology.

''I want to take this opportunity to apologize to the people of Japan, the Japanese Olympic committee, the U.S.O.C., and to all hockey fans throughout the world," Chelios said. ''Certain conduct by a few members of our team was inexcusable.''

In a display of unsporting behavior, several Team USA athletes, allegedly intoxicated, responded to the elimination disappointment by vandalizing three rooms at the Nagano Olympic Village. They broke many chairs and emptied three fire extinguishers. They threw several chairs and an empty fire extinguisher from the fifth story into a courtyard.

Chelios took responsibility for the incident in an apology letter he sent to Nagano Olympic officials, accompanied by a $3000 check.

''Bitter frustration at our own level of play caused a few team members to vent their anger in a way which is not the tradition of N.H.L.- Olympic sportsmanship," he said.

The 1998 Winter Olympics were the first time the International Olympic Committee allowed NHL players to participate. To accommodate this, the NHL took a 17-day break, enabling players to represent their respective countries.

Chris Chelios expresses disappointment over Red Wings not retiring Sergei Fedorov's jersey

Sergei Fedorov #91 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates with Chris Chelios #24 after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes to win the Stanley Cup on June 13, 2002 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. - Source: Getty

During a recent NHL on TNT segment, Chelios expressed his disappointment over the Detroit Red Wings not retiring their former center Sergei Fedorov's No. 91 jersey. Chelios, who won the 2002 Stanley Cup alongside Fedorov, spoke highly of the Russian center:

"In the locker room no one worked harder than him. That's shocking it's not there yet, but I hope they get that jersey retired because he deserves it".

Chelios, who retired in 2010 at the age of 48, also emphasized Fedorov's contributions to the Detroit Red Wings' three Stanley Cup Championships (1997, 1998, and 2002), stating that his impact deserved more recognition from the club.

Fedorov amassed 1179 points (483 goals, 696 assists in the regular season) and was recognized as one of the 100 greatest players to play in the league in 2017. The Hall of Famer won the Frank J. Selke Trophy twice during his career.