American, Canadian hockey teams playing well early

Host Canada and neighbor America have established early on why they are contenders for Olympic gold medals at the Vancouver games. Here is a quick recap of what has happened so far.

On the women’s side, Canada set the tone immediately, whipping Slovakia 18-0 and setting an Olympic record for goals scored. Meghan Agosta and Jayna Hefford scored hat tricks for the Canadian team during the Feb. 13.

The next day, the American women did not rack up 18 goals, but they did tie a team-record 12 goals, as they dismantled China 12-1. Jenny Potter led the way with three goals of the U.S.

Canada got another lopsided win over Switzerland, 10-1, Monday. America won its second game Tuesday 13-0, over Russia, setting a new team-record for goals scored in an Olympic game. The U.S. punished Russia for its mistakes, scoring goals on 7-of-8 power plays and the Americans scored two shorthanded goals also. Potter became the first player to score hat tricks in consecutive Olympic hockey games as well.

Canada is in Group A and America is in Group B, setting the stage for an exciting match up once preliminary round play is completed.

In all the excitement the American and Canadian women’s hockey teams have supplied, it should be noted Pernilla Winberg of Sweden became the first women’s player to record a four-goal game in Olympic history when her team faced Slovakia.

As for the men, competition got underway Tuesday with both the U.S. and Canada winning its first games.

Though the countries’ women’s hockey teams will not meet until the next round, America and Canada are both in Group A on the men’s side.

America won its opening matchup against Switzerland, 3-1. Bobby Ryan, David Backes and Ryan Malone (power play) netted goals for America.

Canada had an easier time with Norway, winning 8-0. Jarome Iginla’s power play goal, his first of three goals, got his team on the board and the host team never looked back.

Preliminary rounds of both tournaments continue this week.

The Canadian women will play Sweden (2-0) today at 2:30 p.m. Thursday has a full slate of North American games with the U.S. men playing Norway (0-1) at noon, the American women facing Finland (2-0) at 2:30 p.m. and the Canadian men competing with Switzerland (0-1) at 4:30 p.m.

Good start for Vancouver games

The Winter Olympics are off to an excellent start.

Canada is seeking to win its first gold medal while hosting the games and came very close to ending the drought during the women’s mogul freestyle event.

Jennifer Heil of Canada had an excellent second run. She stayed balanced, looked relaxed and executed nearly flawless tricks off both jumps. When she finished, she looked up to the scoreboard and saw she moved ahead of American Shannon Bahrke, and was currently in first with one skier remaining.

The remaining skier was American Hannah Kearney, who had a sound second-run of her own. Both competitors knew it was going to be close as they both stared up at the scoreboard, waiting for results.

When it was revealed Kearney won, spectators saw the raw emotion the Olympic offer. They saw it on both the face of the American, expressing sheer joy, and on Heil’s face, stunned at the turn of events.

There was another stunning finish during a men’s short track speed skating event. In the 1500 meter race, South Korea was set to sweep the medals, but two skaters fell coming around the last turn allowing Americans Apolo Anton Ohno and J.R. Celski to gain the silver and bronze medals.

Perhaps the best display of Olympic-caliber bliss was the Netherlands’ Sven Kramer, a 5,000 meter speed skater (and favorite to win the 10,000). Once he realized he won the gold – with an Olympic record time, he ran/slid across the rink, climbed over three barriers between the track and the crowd and ran up a set of stairs to hug his parents and girlfriend. It was a beautiful culmination for the young skater, who no doubt, worked continuously leading up to the games with the goal of first place in mind.

As for Canada’s search for a gold medal on its own soil, they can be excited for their women’s hockey team. The squad pounded Slovakia 18-0, setting an Olympic record for most goals in a game.

There was also women’s biathlon, men’s ski jumping and luge competitions yesterday. And the best part is there are two more weeks of international sport to look forward to.

As of Sunday morning, America led the medal count with four – one gold, one silver and two bronze; South Korea had two – one gold and one silver; and nine countries have one medal each.

If Saturday is any indication of what the 2010 Vancouver games has to offer, we are all in for a treat.