Ex-NHLers guiding Korea's puck luck

Paek and Park on a mission of 'respectability' in their homeland

GANGNEUNG, South Korea - Playing parts of six NHL seasons and winning the Stanley Cup twice, Jim Paek saw hockey at its highest level.

When he returned to his native South Korea to take over its men's national team, he saw the game at an almost unacceptable level. Paek inherited a program that lacked the basic necessities of the sport, let alone the talent to compete internationally.