Its ice hockey showdown time at the Winter Olympics! Vancouver 2010 will see the mens teams of Canada vs USA compete for the gold medal, just like the showdown in Salt Lake City 2002. 

Canada were victorious back in 2002, but they have already lost against the US, 5-3 during the earlier rounds of Vancouver 2010.  So the less fancied US team has proven they can beat the Canadians, pressure will be on the favorites, Canada.

US beat Finland 6-1 in yesterday’s semi-final.  They came out blazing and completely shocked the Finns with 6 goals in the first 13 minutes.  Whilst Canada had a much closer encounter with Slovakia winning 3-2, but having to hold them out right until the end.

The US last won gold in 1980, the “Miracle on Ice” , where they defeated the Soviets, who had dominated ice hockey up until then.  Can they repeat this performance and win gold in Vancouver 2010? Its going to be a thriller!

The top ice hockey nations fight for Olympic medals this weekend. Mens semi-finals tonight between old rivals US and Finland, whilst Slovakia face favorites Canada. Prepare yourself for some epic battles!

Old foes Canada and Russia came up against each other during the week, with the hosts Canada winning 7-3.  One would have expected a closer game from the strong Russian team, who knocked Canada out of the last Winter games in Turin, Italy.  There is certainly no love lost between these two ice hockey teams! 

The Canadians came out hard and fast to open the scoring, never really giving the Russians a chance.  Can they keep up their strong play in front of the home crowd, after their poor start?

Slovakia pulled off a surprise win to beat the reigning gold medalists Sweden 4-3. The US beat the Swiss 2-0, in the other quarter-final and Finland defeated the Czechs 2-0. 

The game between the Finns and US will be hard, once again memories from the last games, where Finalnd defeted the US to take silver, will motivate the US.  The big hits and grudges will not be forgotten!  Cant wait for it to all unfold…

And see if the Canadian men’s ice hockey team can also win gold, just like their female counterparts.

One week to go to the Winter Olympics Vancouver 2010, as the Olympic Torch nears its final destination, for the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony on 12 February.  Excitement builds ahead of final team preparations for this world event. Even the Pope has got in on the act, and wished good luck to all athletes participating in the games. Check out the official Vancouver 2010, Winter Olympics website for the schedule, to make sure you don’t miss out on watching the World’s top athletes do battle on the slopes and on the ice!

Ski Jumping - Innsbruck - FIS World Cup January 2010

Team Canada will be looking to take full advantage of familiar home conditions in Vancouver.  The last Olympic Winter Games took place in Turin, Italy in 2006 – where the Germans took the most medals with a total of 29 (11 gold), followed by the US with 24 medals (9 gold) and Austria 23 (9 gold).  Can the US Team manage to beat the Europeans this time around?

Each country has their specialists in the different categories – Ice hockey, skiing, bobsleigh, skating, curling.  What is difficult, is to win medals in many different categories. Perhaps skiing has the most medals, but there so many top skiers in all the major competing countries that it is tough for one country to totally dominate.  Lets wait and see – within the next few weeks we will know!

Men's Downhill Skiing - FIS World Cup - Wengen, January 2010