FOr those of you that are Canadian and really like hockey.
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Canada defends Olympic gold medal in women's hockey with dominant performance
TURIN, Italy (CP) - Canada took women's hockey to a new level at these Olympic Games and raised the bar even higher for other countries to reach.
Canada defended its gold medal with a comfortable 4-1 win over Sweden on Monday. The Canadian women outscored their opposition 46-2, never gave up an even-strength goal and never trailed in five games at the tournament.
Sweden's semifinal upset of the world champion U.S. meant that Canada did not face its arch-rival. But Canada went 8-2 this winter against the U.S., and after watching Canada dismantle its opposition and the Americans struggle here, who knows what sort of challenge the U.S. could have mounted in the final.
If Monday's gold medal game was anticlimactic, or Canada's road to gold looked easy, it's because of the work done in advance of the Games.
"We've been together since May basically and sometimes it was hell and I wanted to quit hockey," goaltender Charline Labonte said. "Right now, having this medal around my neck, that's why I did it."
Canada's preparation was more intense and thorough than any other country. It paid off in superior team play and puck possession.
The players spent almost a month together last spring, including a gruelling three weeks of physical training in P.E.I., in June before gathering again in Calgary on Aug. 1 for an ultra-competitive environment.
Twenty-eight players competed for 20 jobs through non-stop practices, physical fitness training and a full schedule of more than 50 games, including 22 against men's midget triple-A teams, under a plan masterminded by head coach Melody Davidson and funded to the tune of almost $2 million by Hockey Canada.
The Swedes, who beat the U.S. 3-2 in a shootout in the semifinal, spent about 40 per cent of the time Canada did in its preparation. The Finns were together about 85 days, including the Olympic Games.
The U.S., which won the bronze Monday with a 4-0 win over Finland, scaled back the time its players spent together and the number of games played from its pre-Olympic campaign in 2002.
The Canadian players put school on hold for a year, moved away from their spouses and families and, in some cases, paid rent or mortgages both in Calgary and on their homes elsewhere in order to pursue the gold medal.
Defenceman Becky Kellar had her infant son with her while her husband stayed in Burlington, Ont., to run the family business. Both she and forward Hayley Wickenheiser, who had five-year-old Noah with her during the medal ceremony, juggled full-time hockey and motherhood.
"It's a passion these girls have and our staff has and Mel (coach Davidson) has for the game I think no other country understands yet," Canadian captain Cassie Campbell said. "We're born with hockey sticks in our hands. When they get a taste of winning like we've had, they'll understand what we do on a regular basis."
There wasn't the outpouring of emotion after the buzzer sounded that there was four years ago in Salt Lake City where Canada edged favoured U.S. 3-2 for the gold. It had been a stressful and rocky road to the Olympics with eight straight losses to the U.S. prior to that final.
Instead, there were smiles of satisfaction and hugs all around at Palasport Olympico for having executed what the players had been working so hard to do. The players draped themselves in numerous Canadian flags, including one combo Canadian-Italian flag the players waved to salute the hosts.
Defenceman Colleen Sostorics shed tears when Canadian IOC member **** Pound put her gold medal around her neck and the eyes of several players reddened during the national anthem.
"Tonight I think was relief," Wickenheiser said. "We had a lot of pressure. We'd dominated the Swedes for years and just to come in and get a win was really all we were really focused on.
"I'm just proud, tired, relieved and just want to go and sit down and not play hockey for awhile."
Wickenheiser played with a broken bone in her hand she suffered during the team's second practice here, but still led Canada in scoring with five goals and 12 assists in five games. She was named tournament MVP for the second straight Olympics and the tournament's top forward.
Wickenheiser, linemate Gillian Apps and defenceman Carla MacLeod were named to the all-star team. Wickenheiser continues to add to her power and repertoire every year.
Apps, Caroline Ouellette, Cherie Piper and Jayna Hefford scored in the final for Canada and Wickenheiser and Jennifer Botterill each had two assists. Labonte faced only eight shots for her third shutout of the tournament and her first victory in an Olympic or world championship final. Canada had depth up front that other countries could not contain and Wickenheiser, Apps and Piper were the most lethal. Apps, the granddaughter of Hockey Hall of Famer Syl Apps, and Piper led Canada in goals with seven each.
Canada's defence, anchored by veterans Sostorics, Kellar, Cheryl Pounder and sparked by MacLeod, was effective at moving the puck to its forwards and made few mistakes.
Labonte and Kim St. Pierre didn't face a lot of shots, but stopped all but one each.
Davidson guided her players with a firm but light touch, as this was an experienced and veteran team whose leaders take ownership of the club.
Her team took criticism from various quarters, including Don Cherry, for scoring too many goals in the preliminary round against host Italy.
"These women wear the Canadian flag in every part of their bodies and everybody has to be proud of them and nobody should question them," Davidson said.
Notes: Canadian gold and silver medallists in skeleton, Duff Gibson and Jeff Pain, were at the game as were Canadian men's hockey team assistant coach Jacques Martin, men's taxi squad players Jason Spezza and Dan Boyle and alternate goalie Marty Turco. ... Canada is 46-0-1 all-time against Sweden . ... Germany downed Russia 1-0 in a shootout for fifth and Switzerland beat Italy 11-0 for seventh place.
