MYTISCHI, Russia (CP) - While politicians back home looked for headlines, Shane Doan sought to clear his name Tuesday.

"I'd rather you call me the worst hockey player in the world and say that I don't deserve to be on the team," the beleaguered Canadian captain said after practice at the IIHF World Hockey Championship. "Anything like that, that's fine. You can say whatever you want.

"But don't question my character. Don't question the basis of what I am."

Opposition leaders Stephane Dion, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe did just that in Ottawa on Monday, when they suggested in the House of Commons that he was unfit to lead the Canadian team at the tournament because of derogatory comments he is alleged to have made about French-Canadians in an NHL game some 17 months ago.

The allegations have never been proven. Doan denies making any slurs and he has been cleared by an NHL investigation.

Doan's answer to the first question about the political barbs back home lasted more than five minutes. While clearly hurt by the politicians' comments, he spoke clearly and calmly about things like character, honour and pride and even apologized afterwards for taking so long to answer.

"I don't understand how people can attack somebody when I was cleared by the NHL," said Doan. "Anybody that does any type of investigation into it would realize I never said it.

"And yet, they can just throw it out in the House of Commons? Those are our leaders. Those are the people that we're supposed to look to."

The allegations stem from a game in December 2005 between Doan's Phoenix Coyotes and the Montreal Canadiens. Linesman Michel Cormier says he heard Doan utter a slur against Francophones while skating by him.

Doan says he was trying to calm down goalie Curtis Joseph during a skirmish and wasn't even talking to any of the officials.

"I stand on my word," said Doan. "I did not say a single thing. I didn't say anything even remotely close to what is being said that I said.

"I guess that's probably the most frustrating thing is that you can talk to my teammates, you can talk to anybody that knows me. I wouldn't have said that. Some of my best friends are French-Canadians."

The issue was brought to life Monday when all three opposition leaders suggested the Canadian government speak out against Doan's captaincy. The NDP's Layton even suggested it "cast a shadow" on the Canadian team.

The government refused to bite, saying Doan's appointment was not a government decision.

Doan, 30, says he's always been conscious of how he's carried himself during 11 years in the NHL.

"I play hockey and everything, but the person that I am is way more important," said Doan. "I take incredible pride in being a role model .

"I can't believe that anybody would make allegations or say something about me that has never, ever met me or talked to me."

Doan grew up on a ranch in Halkirk, Alta., where his parents ran a Christian camp for kids. The importance of respect and treating others well were repeatedly taught during his childhood.

He has spent a lifetime trying to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and has left a mark on many of the people who have met him.

"There's not a nicer guy in the world than Shane Doan," Coyotes CEO Jeff Shumway said from Phoenix. "I wasn't around when whatever happened, happened, but I have never heard Shane say a bad word about anybody. It would certainly surprise me if he ever said anything like that."

Doan is a devout Christian who is often teased by teammates for his unwillingness to swear. Fudge is the word he's most likely to use while upset.

Mike Cammalleri has felt Doan's influence and is reluctant to say a bad word in front of him. He can't imagine his captain ever offending anyone.

"Anybody that knows Shane will tell you that it's a very hard thing for any of us to believe that he said something like that," said Cammalleri. "He's pretty much the perfect leader when you think of a guy you want for Team Canada.

"I'm astonished. It just seems like the shoe doesn't fit."

Doan won gold medals at the world championship in 2003 and 2004 and was named captain before the start of this year's tournament.

Coach Andy Murray strongly defended the player he chose to lead his team.

"Shane Doan has answered the call whenever Canada's asked," said Murray. "He's leaving four kids to come over here. He's done enough that he probably had the right to maybe say no and he never has said no to Canada.

"That's all I'll say about it - it's just the fact that I think he's a real Canadian."

Perhaps somewhere down the line the players might be thanking the politicians.

The controversy could provide a rallying point for the 2-0 Canadians heading into Wednesday's game against Slovakia (TSN, 12:15 p.m. ET) - the first real test they'll face in the tournament.

MYTISCHI, Russia (CP) - Shane Doan says the 2005 comment that landed him in hot water was about "four French referees in Montreal," but included no slur.

The Canadian hockey captain again answered questions Wednesday about the December 2005 incident that has become a talking point on both sides of the globe.

Doan says he was trying to calm down goaltender Curtis Joseph, who was upset that a penalty hadn't been called in a game against the Canadiens, when linesmen Michel Cormier though he heard the Phoenix Coyotes captain utter a slur against Francophones.

As an enraged Joseph hovered around centre ice, Doan says he skated over to him and yelled: "Four French referees in Montreal, Cuje, figure it out."

All four officials were French-Canadian that night.

"I would have done the same thing if we were in Los Angeles and it was four officials from California," explained Doan. "Or if we were in Calgary and it was four Westerners."

It's the same thing Doan told NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell while he investigated the incident some 17 months ago. Campbell, who spoke out in defence of Doan on Wednesday, found the player free of any wrongdoing at that time.

Canadian coach Andy Murray also defended Doan after Canada's 5-4 win over Slovakia on Wednesday by saying that it was time for the parliamentarians to put this issue to rest.

"Wherever this guy's coming from, he's got to park it right now," said Murray. "There's a lot more issues in Canada that are more important and certainly globally as well.

"Let's get real and get on with things."

That's not likely to happen before Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson, chairman Rene Marcil and senior director Brad Pascall appear before the House of Commons' Official Languages Committee on Thursday.

Doan will also be happy when it's over.

"I'm embarrassed that there's all this attention about it," he said. "I never said anything so I don't understand why it keeps getting a life of its own."

Despite that attention, Doan intends to remain captain of the team.

He says he told Hockey Canada management that he would support any decision they made about the captaincy and was told that the 'C' would remain on his jersey.

"They've been nothing but supportive of me," said Doan. "I obviously don't want to cause a distraction but in our locker-room it's been great. Every guy on our team has been incredible."

His teammates were more than happy to lend support.

At 37, goaltender Dwayne Roloson is the veteran on the team. He spent time with Doan on Tuesday night talking about the incident and fallout.

Roloson believes it's an important for the team to stick together.

"We're in a situation right now where we're surrounding him," he said. "We believe in him . . . We're a long way away from our families but we've just got to make sure that we're a family here and that's what we're doing."

Several family members of the players are scheduled to arrive in Moscow on Thursday.

The team improved to a perfect 3-0 at the IIHF World Hockey Championship with the win over Slovakia and is doing its best to focus on that.

"It's been talked about a bit, but nothing at all when we get to the rink," said forward Rick Nash. "It's all business once we get here.

"We know we've got a job to bring back the gold to Canada and we're not going to let those issues sidetrack us."