Pirate Galaxy » anheim struck twice for the Hitmen (10-8-3)

Barring a miracle – and that is not an exaggeration – it will be Canada versus the United States in the womens hockey gold medal game Feb. 20 in Sochi. Why? Because they always meet in the final, right? Well, nearly always. Sweden somehow managed to make it into the gold medal game at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. But in the 19 Olympic and World Championship final games since womens hockey arrived on the international stage in 1999, it has been Canada against the United States 18 times. Canada begins by facing Switzerland on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. in their first game of the tournament - watch it live on CBC TV and streaming at cbc.ca/olympics. The mere fact Canada has won the past three of four gold medals at the Olympics – losing only in Nagano in 1998 – would make them the favorites in the eyes of many. However, their victories in the last three Olympic Games really have nothing to do with this years tournament. More relevant is the fact the United States defeated Canada in the last four meetings of their seven-game pre-Olympic exhibition series. Canada is the defending Olympic champion, but the Americans have a little swagger. Dan Church knows that as well as anybody. Church resigned as coach of the Canadian womens Olympic team in December and was replaced by former Florida Panthers coach Kevin Dineen. Team USA is deep at every position. They also have scoring at every position – forward and defence – and they have a lot of speed. “Their young forwards especially are extremely quick,” Church said. “If you give them room in the neutral zone theyll always find a way to create. They are really gifted at getting the puck into the scoring area; even if its not a direct shot just getting it there so now your defenders and goaltender really have to be on top of things. They are always creating offence with their speed.” Canada will need to have a forward to force the Americans to one half of the ice surface and break off their speed and their ability to attack or counterattack. Scoring problems Even if its overall team speed doesnt match that of the United States, Canada traditionally can hold its own with any team in the world in terms of offence, and is better than most. That said, Canada has had some difficulty scoring, particularly against the United States, leading up to the Sochi Games. Rebecca Johnston, a scoring machine at Cornell for four seasons, has speed and skill and the ability to take it to the front of the net. The 25-year-old had a goal and six points in five games at the 2010 Olympics and will be expected to exceed those numbers this year. Jenn Wakefield, 24, has plenty of international experience, but is making her Olympic debut. She is another go-to forward for Canada. Of course there are also veterans Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Hefford and Caroline Ouellette, all of whom can dominate a game. Wickenheiser in particular can be a dangerous scorer when she is shooting the puck. Hefford is strong around the net and Ouellette remains an offensive catalyst. As for Canadas young players, Natalie Spooner is a power forward with great hands and Megan Agosta-Marciano can be a world beater when shes playing at her best. Countering for Team USA will be Kelli Stack. She is a game-breaker and every time shes on the ice she can create for herself and her teammates. Stack has great vision. “She is an offensive threat every time she touches the puck,” Church said. “You always have to worry about her. She is the offensive catalyst for the team.” Amanda Kessel, the younger sister of Toronto Maple Leafs star Phil, is also a really strong player. Like her brother, she has speed to burn and plenty of offensive upside. She was the collegiate national player of the year with the University of Minnesota in 2013. Physically, Canada has an edge over the United States, but the Americans do not fear Canadas physical game - just as Canada believes it can overcome USAs speed. In the end, it could come down to goaltending. Canada believes its three goalies, Shannon Szabados, Charline Labonte and Genevieve Lacasse, could all backstop the team to a gold in Sochi. Szabados will be the starter and is looking for her second Olympic gold medal as a starter. Early in the season it seemed like Team USA was leaning toward Jessie Vetter getting the job as the starter, but down the stretch, Molly Schaus got more action. Schaus is better technically, but Vetter is very athletic. The starter will likely be the goalie the coaching staff feels is the hotter of the two entering the tournament. The bottom line for Canada is that it can win a fourth straight gold in Sochi, but reputation at this tournament means squat. Its not about what was; its about what is. Mark Messier Jersey .C. -- Jackson Whistle made 26 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Kelowna Rockets blanked the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes 5-0 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action. Benoit Pouliot Jersey . Fielder ended 4-for-5 with a solo homer, while Avila was 4-for-4 with two runs scored for the Tigers, who put the brakes on a three-game skid and rebounded from a loss in Mondays opener. Victor Martinez and Austin Jackson both contributed two hits, an RBI and a run scored as Detroit maintained its healthy lead atop the AL Central. http://www.officialoilersfanstore.com/au...s-jersey/.While Rosberg is coming off a strong victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Hamilton is dwelling on a mistake that ended his streak of five consecutive wins and kept him from increasing his advantage. Jari Kurri Jersey . -- Sami Salo joked that as the shootout went on and on, one thing went through his mind: "Youve got to tie up your skates. Andrew Ference Jersey . The 28-year-old from Rochester, Alta., was selected by the Redblacks from the Saskatchewan Roughriders roster in the 2013 CFL Expansion Draft.CRANBROOK, B.C. - Luke Philp scored his second goal of the game at 4:45 of overtime to lead the last-place Kootenay Ice over the Calgary Hitmen 7-6 on Friday in Western Hockey League action.Tyler King, Jaedon Descheneau, Vince Loschiavo, Tim Bozon and Zak Zborosky also found the back of the net for Kootenay (7-13-0).Taylor Sanheim struck twice for the Hitmen (10-8-3) with Chase Lang, Jake Virtanen, Adam Tambellini and Radel Fazleev rounding out the offence.Wyatt Hoflin kicked out 32 shots in the win. Mack Shields started in net for Calgary but was pulled after stopping 17-of-20 shots and 32:16 minutes of work. Evan Johnson made 13 saves in relief, playing 32:29.The Ice failed to score on three power-play chances while the Hitmen were 0 for 2.---WARRIORS 5 RAIDERS 3PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — Tanner Eberle and Brayden Howden both had two goals and an assist for Moose Jaw en route to a victory over the Raiders.Tyler Brown had the other Warriors (9-10-2) goal.Tim Vanstone, Reid Gardiner and Gage Quinney scored for Prince Albert (8-13-0), who fell for the fourth-straight time.---PATS 6 TIGERS 2REGINA — Dryden Hunt had a hat trick to lead the Pats past Medicine Hat.Adam Brooks, Connor Gay and Sam Steel also scored for Regina (10-9-1).Tommy Vannelli and Cole Sanford had power-play goals for the Tigers (14-4-1).---THUNDERBIRDS 6 WHEAT KINGS 4BRANDON, Man. — Keegan Kolesar had a goal and two assists as Seattle snapped the Wheat Kings six-game winning streak.Scott Eansor, Justin Hickman, Ryan Gropp, Shea Theodore and Calvin Spencer rounded out the Thunderbirds (9-8-3) attack.Jesse Gabrielle, Peter Quenneville, John Quenneville and Duncan Campbell scored for Brandon (16-4-1).---REBELS 4 HURRICANES 1RRED DEER, Alta.dddddddddddd— Tyler Sandhu struck twice in the third period as the Rebels scored four straight to get by Lethbridge.Brooks Maxwell and Scott Feser rounded out Red Deers (10-8-3) offence.Zane Jones found the back of the net early in the third period for the Hurricanes (5-11-4).---OIL KINGS 7 BLADES 1EDMONTON — Ashton Sautner had a hat trick as the Oil Kings dominated Saskatoon.Dysin Mayo struck twice and added two assists for Edmonton (11-8-2). David Koch and Tyler Robertson rounded out the attack.Cory Millette scored late in the third period for the Blades (6-14-0).---CHIEFS 4 BLAZERS 2KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Liam Stewart scored twice as Spokane downed the Blazers.Kailer Yamamoto and Jackson Playfair had the other goals for the Chiefs (9-6-3).Travis Verveda and Jake Kryski replied for Kamloops (9-10-3).---ROCKETS 6 COUGARS 3PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — Rourke Chartier and Tyson Baillie both scored twice as Kelowna dropped the Cougars.Kris Schmidli and Rodney Southam also chipped in for the Rockets (19-1-1).Brad Morrison, Jansen Harkins and Aaron Boyd rounded out the Prince George (11-10-0) offence.---AMERICANS 4 ROYALS 1KENNEWICK, Wash. — Richard Nejezchleb had two goals to lead Tri-City over Victoria.Beau McCue scored and added three assists for the Americans (13-9-0), while Justin Gutierrez had the other.Tyler Soy had a third-period goal for the Royals (10-10-2).---SILVERTIPS 4 WINTERHAWKS 3 (SO) EVERETT, Wash. — Ivan Nikolishin scored in both regulation and the shootout as the Silvertips edged Portland.Noah Juulsen and Brayden Low also found the back of the net for Everett (13-2-3).Paul Bittner, Chase De Leo and Keoni Texeira had goals for the Winterhawks (8-11-3). 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