The reprise of `Miracle on Ice'.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

PHOENIX _ Like the Blues Brothers, the "Miracle on Ice" boys are getting the band back together.

Herb Brooks, who guided the United States to the Olympic gold medal in 1980, was named in November to be coach for the 2002 team. Brooks' assistant in 1980, Craig Patrick, is the general manager this time.

And reprising his role as the U.S. goaltending coach from the 1980 squad, Warren Strelow will be named to the 2002 coaching staff later this week.

Strelow, who joined the Sharks in 1997, will participate in an organizational meeting Jan. 21 in Chicago along with Patrick and Brooks.

"It's really a challenge and an honor to try to duplicate what we did in 1980," Strelow said Monday. "It's not going to be easy, but it'd be less of a miracle this time."

At the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, the U.S. team had three goalies with Mike Richter, John Vanbiesbrouck and Guy Hebert. Richter figures to be invited back in 2002, with Garth Snow, Mike Dunham, Brent Johnson and Brian Boucher in the running.

Strelow could have as many as five of his current or former pupils on opposing teams in the Olympics. Strelow worked with Martin Brodeur, a leading candidate for Team Canada, during Strelow's stint as New Jersey's goaltending coach.