‘94 WINTER OLYMPICS / LILLEHAMMER : NOTEBOOK

Ending what had become a minor drama, U.S. Coach Tim Taylor designated Mike Dunham to start in goal today against France. Taylor also indicated Dunham will start Tuesday’s game against Slovakia and Garth Snow will face Canada on Thursday.

Dunham was projected to be the team’s top goaltender since training camp began last August, but his struggles in December and January, coupled with Snow’s strong play, had jeopardized his starting job. Dunham, a 1990 fourth-round draft pick by the New Jersey Devils, was 22-9-2 in pre-Olympic play with a 3.78 goals-against average and an .873 save percentage. Snow, who was 3-2 in five games with the Quebec Nordiques this season, was 13-5-3 in pre-Olympic play with a 3.22 GAA and .884 save percentage.

Taylor informed the players of his choice late Saturday.

“We’re fortunate because we have two strong goaltenders who are capable of playing at this level,” Taylor said. “It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but Mike has a bit more international experience than Garth. That doesn’t mean Garth won’t have an opportunity to play. I anticipate giving both goaltenders a chance to play here.”

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Six players on the French hockey team have ties to the Canadian province of Quebec--five more than the number of Quebecers on the Canadian squad.

The 10th-seeded French team, which faces the United States today, has several Quebec natives and several others who played junior hockey there. Defenseman Steven Woodburn was born in Montreal and played in Shawinigan, Verdun and Laval. Defenseman Serge Poudrier and forward Benoit Laporte were both born in the Quebec town of Trois Rivieres. Right wing Arnaud Briand played for St. Jean of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and was chosen 240th by Edmonton in the 1983 NHL draft and right wing Franck Pajonkowski played junior hockey in Shawinigan and Chicoutimi.

Center Pierrick Maia has ties to both Quebec and the United States, having played for Bowling Green and for Victoriaville, Quebec.

The Canadian team has only one Quebec native, forward Jean Yves Roy.

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Sweden has long produced world-class hockey players, and so has Finland. They’re seeded second and seventh, respectively, in the Olympic tournament. But Norway, the host country, has never contributed many players to the NHL and is seeded 11th here.

That lowly status could change soon, George Kingston said. He coached the Norwegian national team from 1989-91, having been recruited to help Norway create facilities and plans to stage these Games. Kingston, who went on to coach the San Jose Sharks in their expansion season, is now director of operations for Hockey Canada, the sport’s governing body.

“Norway has improved over the past few years, no question about it,” he said. “They’re improving because they’re gaining experience playing against solid, A-pool (top-notch) nations. The only way you can improve is through playing against the best.

Goaltender Robert Schistad, who grew up in Canada and moved to Norway seven years ago, is optimistic the Olympics will help hockey in his adopted country.

“The crowds are good, but they’re not crazy like the fans back home,” he said. “In a few places here, hockey is big, but it hasn’t developed that kind of support everywhere. It’s going to take a while because we don’t have that many rinks. But we’re definitely improving and I hope it keeps going that way.”