NHL

Why John Tortorella is apologizing to all of Canada

John Tortorella is in hot water yet again.

The irascible former Rangers coach apologized Tuesday for remarks he made regarding the Sweden-Canada Olympics gold medal game.

Tortorella, who is in his first season coaching the Canucks, had bluntly stated that he hoped Sweden would defeat Canada, saying it was likely that Canucks defensemen Dan Hamhuis and goaltender Roberto Luongo would not be playing in the gold-medal game.

“I hope Sweden wins because I don’t think Hammer is going to play judging from what’s happened and I don’t think Louie is going to play,” Tortorella said Saturday. “So I don’t give a [bleep] right now because they’re not playing. I just want them back here. I hope Danny [Sedin] scores two goals and [Alex] Edler gets three assists and Sweden wins so they come back feeling good about themselves because it’s going to help us. That’s all I’m concerned about right now.”

Sweden did not win, as Canada successfully defended its gold medal with a 3-0 victory.

At practice on Tuesday, Tortorella issued a mea culpa.

“If I have insulted anybody that certainly wasn’t my intention and I think all of you know that,” Tortorella said today. “But I did. It was a careless use of words and I should be more cognizant. I want to clear that up. It’s my privilege to be here and I think I did insult people. That’s the furthest thing from my mind. It’s a great country and … It was a careless use of words. That’s on me, I hope I can clear it up today.”

He went on to say how grateful he was to be coaching in Canada, while also adding that he sent a text message apology to one of Team Canada’s coaches.

“As I said when I was hired here, it is an absolute privilege to coach in Canada and I still feel that,” he said. “I love everything about it. I love the pressure, I love the scrutiny, all the second-guessing, all the stuff that comes with it. I couldn’t be happier.”

This isn’t the first time that Tortorella has had to apologize for his actions as coach of the Canucks.

Last month, he was suspended for 15 days after he attempted to enter the Calgary locker room in between periods of a Flames-Canucks game. That came after Tortorella screamed at the Calgary bench following a fight that broke out following the opening faceoff.

“I let a lot of people down,” he said on Feb. 3. “I have to make amends here by getting back at this. I’m going to be who I am. I just can’t go off the rails as I did.

“Off the rails? I was off the country.”