VANCOUVER — Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella apologized today for saying on the weekend that he hoped Sweden would beat Canada in Sunday’s Olympic men’s hockey final.

Tortorella had made the remarks following Saturday’s Canucks’ practice at Rogers Arena, noting that it seemed likely that Dan Hamhuis and Roberto Luongo were not going to play for Team Canada in the final.

“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, an American, said on 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.”

Today, Tortorella opened his post-practice session with the media by issuing an apology to those who were offended by his comments.

“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.”

Tortorella reiterated that he feels privileged to coach in Canada.

“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.”

Tortorella said he sent a text to one of Team Canada’s coaches apologizing for his remarks.

bziemer@vancouversun.com

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