Ottawa, ON -- (Sports Network) - Former Detroit Red Wings superstar Steve Yzerman was named the executive director for the Canadian men's Olympic hockey team.

Yzerman, currently the vice president of the Red Wings, will help put together Canada's entry into the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

"I am truly honored and privileged to take on the role of executive director for Hockey Canada going into 2010," said Yzerman. "I am also very excited about the group that we have in place, a group that has great experience at both the professional and international level. I know that we have the right mix in place to assemble a team that will make all Canadians proud in 2010."

Yzerman will work with Edmonton Oilers president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe, St. Louis Blues assistant general manager Doug Armstrong and Red Wings general manager Ken Holland.

Wayne Gretzky, the head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, will serve as advisor to Yzerman. Gretzky was Canada's executive director for the 2002 and 2006 Olympic Games.

Canada won the gold medal at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, beating the United States in the championship game, and reached only the quarterfinals at the 2006 Games in Torino.