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Yandle admits Olympic snub is a ‘tough pill to swallow’

yandleontherightgetty

James OBrien

Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle didn’t try to sugarcoat his feelings about being left off of the 2014 U.S. Olympic team, as the Arizona Republic’s Sarah McLellan reports.

“Obviously it’s a tough pill to swallow,” Yandle said on Thursday.

On the bright side, he mentioned that he’s been receiving texts of support from other players around the league, something that means a ton to him.

Of course, not every bit of commentary about the 27-year-old has been positive, as highly publicized fly-on-the-wall criticisms have been shared in stories from USA Today’s Kevin Allen and ESPN’s Scott Burnside. Yandle didn’t attempt to plead ignorance regarding those accounts, either.

“I read it,” Yandle said. "[Does it] affect me? No. Obviously people have opinions.”

“I try not to pay attention to that kind of stuff.”

In the meantime, he’ll try to channel that energy into his play for the Coyotes, who have pointed out the benefits of getting an Olympic break. It might take Yandle a while to embrace that mentality, though.