 Sakic 's first Olympic appearance came in 1998 at Nagano , Japan , after the event allowed NHL players to compete for the first time . Bothered by a knee injury , he only scored three points in four games , as the Canadian squad failed to meet expectations and finished in fourth . Sakic 's second Olympic appearance came in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City . Led by his strong play , the Canadian team played their way to the gold medal match against Team USA , where Sakic had four points and helped the team win its first gold medal in 50 years . He was later named MVP of the tournament with a cumulative tally of four goals and six assists and became one of the first Canadian members of the Triple Gold Club . Sakic also played a part in Canada 's triumph in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey , where he scored six points in six games . 
