Home   >   Sports   >   [HOT LINKS]Ex-NHLer Jim Paek eyes Korean miracle on ice

[HOT LINKS]Ex-NHLer Jim Paek eyes Korean miracle on ice

August 2, 2014
(INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION PHOTO)

(INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION PHOTO)

[TORONTO STAR] When Jim Paek’s family left South Korea for Toronto in 1968, it was to pursue a better life.

While Canada provided that, it also stoked Paek’s passion for hockey. So now the tables are turning.

Paek, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins, is returning to the land of his birth and trying to do something remarkable: build an Olympic hockey power against insurmountable odds.

“Hockey’s a funny sport,” said Paek. “Look at the 1980 U.S. team (when collegians won Olympic gold). Not saying we’ll do that, but you never want to set your goals low. You might as well shoot for the stars if you can.

“Our goal is to get better every day, and hopefully getting better every day will allow us to get competitive against the other countries in the world.” [READ MORE]