Pardubice, Czech Republic — Carey Wilson won't be showing his colours today. He won't don any stars and strips or the Canadian Maple Leaf.
"I'll be wearing black," the former Canadian national team player said.
The way Wilson figures it, he can't lose when his son Colin, 18, and the United States juniors meet Canada in the semi-final at the world under-20 championship. If the United States wins, good for Colin. If Canada is victorious, good for his home and native land.
"I could not put anything USA on," Carey said. "But in fondness for my son, I won't wear anything Canadian, either. But I absolutely wanted them to meet at this tournament, but in the gold-medal game."
Related Articles
Wilson will be in the Pardubice Arena stands with his wife, Joan, but there won't be a lot of cheering from Carey because of the divided loyalties.
Carey, 45, wore Canadian colours too many times as a hockey player to give up on his heritage, including the 1982 world junior, 1983 world championship and the Olympics in 1984. But that was never the case for Colin. He was born when Wilson was playing for the New York Rangers and living in Rye, N.Y.
When Colin was younger and the family would be gathered around the television set watching Canada play on the international hockey stage, he reminded his son when he cheered for Canada that he was born in the United States.
"He was loyal to the U.S. at an early age because I would bust his chops about him being born in New York," said Carey, who lives in Winnipeg and run his own hockey school. "He took that to heart. He really started to show at a young age that he was willing to add blue to the red and white."
In fact, when Colin was younger and living and playing minor hockey in Winnipeg, he often wore U.S. T-shirts and his MSN moniker was Americanguy. The Boston University freshman left Winnipeg two seasons ago to join the U.S. development program and hasn't looked back. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound forward has enjoyed a sensational tournament with six goals in four games and has improved his stock as a possible top-10 pick at the 2008 NHL entry draft in June.
So seriously, whom is Carey, who spent 10 seasons in the NHL with the Rangers, Calgary Flames and Hartford Whalers, rooting for today?
"Yes, I want Canada to win, but first and foremost, I want to see Colin win," Carey said. "He's my own blood, he's my son."
