Posted on February 16th, 2010 by DJ
The most scrutinized left ankle in town belongs to Ryan Getzlaf and at precisely 4:29 pm. PST, it hit the ice at Canada Hockey Place to participate in Canada’s first official practice of the 2010 men’s Olympic hockey tournament.
After all that waiting, all that scrutiny, all that analysis, Christmas had to come someday, right?
“It means everything to be here,” said Getzlaf, who practiced Monday on a line with fellow Duck Corey Perry and Eric Staal, as coach Mike Babcock tentatively unveiled his lines and defence pairings during an hour-long practice that would be their only preparation before Tuesday’s opener against Norway.
Posted on February 16th, 2010 by DJ
Expectations are high for Canada to win gold medal in men’s hockey on its home soil. Now, it’s up to what appears to be the deepest roster ever to deliver.
Canada’s bid for gold in a sport its citizens point to with national pride begins Tuesday night against Norway, which returns to the Olympic stage for the first time in 16 years.
On paper, Canada should have enough to win the country’s seventh gold in the sport and first since 2002. But how intense are expectations in a country where the sport is viewed as an obsession?
Posted on February 16th, 2010 by DJ
Most older Canadians know where they were the morning of Sept. 28, 1972.
NHL player agent Pat Brisson, 46, was a second-grader at Dominic Savio school in Valleyfield, Quebec, and recalls sitting in the gymnasium with all of his classmates watching television when Paul Henderson scored a goal to give Canada’s NHL players a series-clinching victory against the Soviets in the Summit Series in Moscow. Since then, Canada has viewed itself as an international hockey power.
“We watched it on two small black and white televisions,” Brisson said. “I remember it like it was yesterday. To Canadians, it doesn’t seem like anything could be bigger than that tournament. But I think this Olympic tournament could be.”
Posted on February 16th, 2010 by DJ
It may not make Jenn Heil feel any better about losing a gold medal in the mist and rain of Cypress Mountain, but to Sidney Crosby, she’s already a teammate. One of many new ones.
Even before the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar arrived in Vancouver late Sunday night aboard a private jet with six other members of Canada’s men’s hockey team, he was synchronizing his emotions with his compatriots at the 2010 Winter Olympics, including Heil’s valiant moguls effort Saturday night.
“I was glued to the TV,” said Crosby in excited tones after his final pre-Olympic NHL appearance Sunday afternoon. “I thought (Heil) had it. And then, as soon as I saw the American come through, well, she nailed it too.
Posted on February 16th, 2010 by DJ
Canadian star to centre line with Bergeron, Nash in opener vs. Norway
A FLASH OF FEAR went through Sidney Crosby’s eyes as pain shot through his leg only hours before he was to leave for his first Olympic Games.
But the 22-year-old scoring star who carries much of Canada’s hockey gold medal hopes into the 2010 Games was all smiles about it Monday after a pain-free skate at Canada Hockey Place.
Posted on February 16th, 2010 by DJ
Sidney Crosby smacked his stick on the dasher of the boards at the Penguins’ bench and hung his head in a display of pain and frustration after taking a shot by Nashville defenseman Kevin Klein off the right foot.
All of Canada collectively held its breath.
When the face of the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver left the ice less than seven minutes into the second period Sunday at Mellon Arena, it had to give the gold-medal hopes of Team Canada scare.
For a fleeting moment, Crosby’s dreams of starring on home ice in the Olympics appeared to be dealt the same fate as Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final, when the Penguins’ captain and star center injured his left knee in the second period at Detroit and helplessly watched the final period.
