Chris Chelios hasn’t closed the door on playing in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver at the age of 48 the Canadian Press is reporting.

"If need be, I'm going to be honest, I would love to play in those Olympics," Chelios said Thursday on a USA Hockey conference call. "Because I think it's going to be one of the best ever. To have the greatest players in the world and the fact that it's going to be in North America. ...

"And if it's not as a player, I would hope it would be in some capacity, maybe as a coach or in management. But I would really love to be involved because of the 20-odd years I've been involved with USA Hockey."

The 2010 Games would be the fifth Olympics for the Chelios who played for the U.S. in 1984, 1998, 2002, and 2006.

"In the role I'm playing now, it's going to be tough," said the 46-year old Red Wings defenseman. "I kind of compare myself to a relief pitcher in baseball where I play a role in penalty kill and defensive situations. Realistically, with the way my minutes are down ... but I thought the same thing prior to the last Olympics (2006) and because of injuries on teammates on Detroit I was given the opportunity to play and I was fortunate enough to be named to the team.

"It's a ways away still, a lot can happen. Physically I feel great. I don't want to hold any young kid from getting a spot on the team but by the same token I'm not ready to give it up either."

Chelios likes the Americans chances of taking home the gold medal in 2010.

"Obviously because Canada is on home ice, they're going to be the team to beat and they'll be the toughest team to beat," Chelios said. "But otherwise, I think we match up against anybody else in that tournament, we're just as good. It just remains to be seen who the hot team is at the right time."

"Being around this long, I've had the opportunity to watch USA Hockey develop and grow and finally be able to compete at the same level as all the other countries, including against Canada and proving that in the '96 World Cup," Chelios said. "I still go back to the 1980 Olympics, which basically paved the way for players like myself, (Pat) LaFontaine, (Al) Iafrate, Dave Jensen, really made the hockey world aware of USA Hockey and its growth and development, and it happened at a rapid pace once the '80 team accomplished what it did."

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