Eyes on hosts Canada as ice hockey offers double chances 8

As Vancouver is ready for that Feb. 12-28 Winter Games, the hockey-mania nation has laid its accounts aided by the double golds, especially right after the Canadian men's team finished seventh out from eight teams in Turin 2006.To make sure Canada leaving with the disappointment 4 years ago, including a 2-0 shutout by minnow Switzerland, team director Steve Yzermann, an early National Hockey League legend, called up a squad using its stars with the break-taking league.Sidney Crosby, arguably the sport's most dynamic player who led the Pittsburgh Penguins to win the Stanley Cup eight months ago, will head the hosts' superpower lineup, while veteran defender Scott Niedermayer captains one side to generate up for his injury absence in 2006.Also young star Drew Doughty was place on the roster, just glued to superstar goalie Martin Brodeur.There isn't a easy drive towards the Canadian hockey boys, however, with two-time reigning world champion Russia, defending Olympic champion Sweden, the 2006 silver medalist Finland and also the dangerous neighbor north america all set minds for any flavored gold.Just finishing fourth in 2006 and achieving not won Olympic gold since 1992 because the Unified Team, Russia beat Canada both in 2009 and 2008 world's finals, such as one in Quebec two year period ago.With two-time NHL MVP Alexander Ovechkin and three-time Stanley Cup winner Sergei Federov being back with the 2010 Games, Russia might be even stronger compared to the 2009 world championships.Holder Sweden, in addition to Canada, has the best goalkeeper anywhere in Henrik Lundqvist, while Finland has construct a team of experience with veterans like Saku Koivu, Kimmo Timonen and Teemu Selanne. Each of the northern squads have injury worries, though.The us may keep its soft reason for scoring goals, nevertheless the back end are not going to come bothering want it did in Turin. And more luckily, the pressure shouldn't be on its side."The only pressure should see in the near future today would be the pressure for those Canadian team which can be massive and glacial and unrelenting," said general manager Brian Burke accompanied by a smile.At the women's part, the clear edge is jointly held by Canada additionally, the Us, given that the world still is lifetime meet up with the North American powerhouses in ice hockey.The Canadians are overwhelming at Olympics, having won the 2002 title in Salt Lake City and defended it four years later in Turin, but lost in the U.S. twice back to back while in the 2008 and 2009 world championships. The 2007 worlds, however, saw Canada beating the us ., who took silver and bronze over the last two Olympics.Having a perfect 10-0 record inside the last two Olympics, Canada will seek a hat-trick victory on home soil with veterans Hayley Wickenheiser and Cherie Piper, as you move U.S. comes closely with Angela Ruggiero and Jenny Potter.China, having earned the women's berth for ones second time after missing the 2006 Games, has fixed its eyes on the sixth finish into the least under Finn Hannu Saintula, whilst the surprise silver medalist Sweden, who beat the U.S. 3-2 inside the semifinal in 2006, will ever try difficult to repeat the Turin glory.