Ottawa Senators winger Dany Heatley.Bill Grimshaw
Dany Heatley has been the invisible man this summer.
Ever since he demanded a trade from the NHL's Ottawa Senators, the goal-scoring winger has seemingly done his utmost to avoid the spotlight. But that will cease come Aug. 24 when Heatley attends Hockey Canada's three-day summer orientation camp in advance of the 2010 Olympics.
Yesterday, at a ceremony unveiling the sweaters to be worn at the Games, Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson said that he spoke to Heatley on Sunday night and didn't believe that the player's stance - wanting out of the nation's capital and refusing a trade to the Edmonton Oilers - would adversely affect his candidacy for the Olympic team.
"I had a real good chat with Dany [Sunday]night, and he will look for what's best for him," Nicholson said. "Dany Heatley has been unbelievable to Hockey Canada.
"Hopefully, it won't be a distraction. We want this to be positive."
Heatley, Canada's all-time leading goal scorer in international competition, has already backed out of a speaking engagement at the OneGoal hockey summit in Toronto on Tuesday. He was also a no-show at teammate Jason Spezza's wedding in Ottawa last month.
Heatley, 28, has represented Canada at six International Ice Hockey Federation world championships, an Olympic Games, a World Cup of Hockey and two world junior championships.
Heatley, who was born in Germany and raised in Calgary, has 40 goals and 67 points in 64 international games. He is also the all-time leading scorer at the world championships.