As always, there are two teams in the women's tournament worth talking about: Canada and the U.S. Canada has won the past two Olympic gold medals
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Olympic preview: Women's hockey
- February 13, 2010 1:26 PM |
- By Noah Love
Story provided by
The Contenders
As always, there are two teams in the women's tournament worth talking about: Canada and the U.S. Canada has won the past two Olympic gold medals; the U.S. has won the last two world championships to take over the top of the IIHF rankings. But in their fall exhibition series, Canada ran the table, taking all six of their contests, with only one of the wins coming in a shootout. The Canadians outscored the Americans 22-10 in regulation play over the course of those games.
The Top 5 (IIHF Rankings)
1. United States
2. Canada
3. Finland
4. Sweden
5. Switzerland
Dark horses
Sweden shockingly upset the U.S. in the 2006 Olympic tournament and then got crushed by Canada in the final. The Swedes have fallen behind Finland in the world rankings, but they are only separated by a few points. With the U.S. Still riding high from its two world championship wins, those the two Scandinavian nations will likely battle for the bronze.
About the Author
- Bruce Arthur Bruce Arthur is the National Post's national sports columnist. A Vancouver native, he has been with the Post since 2001, and a columnist since 2005. He is covering his second Olympics, after the 2008 Games in Beijing. He expects these Games to be slightly less propagandistic, and for China to win slightly fewer medals.
- Joe O'Connor Joe O'Connor is a roving sports feature writer with an open-ended beat. He joined the National Post in 2002, and has spent the past seven years bouncing from sport to sport, offering fresh perspectives and delivering unique stories wherever he goes. Whether it has been getting Don Cherry to open up about his love life; George Chuvalo to talk about heartbreaking loss; or racing down the side of a mountain with former Crazy Canuck, Dave Irwin, the veteran Postie chases a story wherever it leads. Before joining the newspaper he was a two-time silver medalist at the National Magazine Awards. Vancouver will be his first Olympics.
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