These looked like risky games going in, but for a while, both the USA and Russian Federation seemed up to the challenge. The women’s tournament is one game, victor take gold medal, everybody knows everybody, the matchup already anticipated. This time, the political circumstances may be different but the victory in the end could be similar. A key difference, though, is that the WJC is an annual event, rather than one that occurs every four years.
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A look at the first day of action at the men’s Olympic tournament, and highlights from the final day of Group B play on the women’s side. We never have to make choice between our team and our country my whole career. And after the two teams battled back-and-forth without a goal in the second frame, Peter Ceresnak found twine behind Russian goaltender Vasili Koshechkin midway through the third.
And then he pauses.
If the opening of the men’s Olympic tournament is any indication, there will be nary a tiresome moment in PyeongChang.
The men’s tournament is about getting to know each other.
Now it’s less about anger and more about hockey at its best and the odd juxtaposition that exists between the only countries dominating a multi-countried sport.
“I think 2017 was a year for women, and in terms of what our team was able to accomplish as far as what we did in the spring, we’ve built off that”, says Monique Lamoureux.
Two of their most recognizable players with some of the most NHL experience is looking at these Games as a springboard to get back in the league. You get two guys working together, playing on opposite teams, each one desperately wanting to win. They’ve made shirts and commemorative coins with his initials on them, and he has his own jersey that sits in the dressing room and coaches room.
So, what went wrong for Team USA? The math doesn’t add up. “And we play similar”.
As favourite at home in Sochi, that was a huge disappointment. They don’t like each other.
Russia’s talent pool hasn’t taken Olympic gold since 1992 but it sizzled early.
The loss came despite the Americans holding a 2-0 lead late in the third period. Team USA beat Finland 3-1 before also blanking OAR 5-0.
Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is going to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft this June.
“This is a little bit like a world junior tournament in a way”, Ferraro said. Griffin, who is half-Korean, is a North Carolinian who played college hockey at Harvard. “I’ll have to look at the video”. The Swedes will be good.
“We had this whole week watching athletes compete in their sports and we finally got our chance, and I’m happy everyone came to play”, said Wolski.
Most everyone expects a U.S.
Ferraro offers one more contender: “The Swiss are pretty good and experienced”. “I think it’s up to us”.
Maybe if the idea of having the games outside would have appealed to Bettman, who can’t stop scheduling Winter Classics as his idea of prime exposure.
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“We know coming into the tournament it was going to be tough and our goal of advancing was something we knew was a hard, difficult challenge but we thought if we played well together we could make it work”. “Some pressure, a bounce, a penalty, a save, and you’re in or you’re out”. See the full schedule for the men’s and women’s tournaments here. “You’ll know soon enough”, said Ferraro.
