Canada, U.S. to battle for women's hockey gold

VANCOUVER — The Canadian women's hockey team knows disappointment too well.

We're not trying to be funny here. Yeah, we know that the Canadian women won back-to-back gold medals at the 2002 and 2006 Olympic Games. We also realize they thrilled us at home in Winnipeg with another gold at the 2007 world championship.

But since Winnipeg, triumphs for the Canadian women have been few and far between after losing to the rival United States in the past two world championships. That's why Canada will be so determined to end the dry spell at Canada Hockey Place in Vancouver on Thursday.

"We've had a couple years of disappointment," Canadian veteran forward Jayna Hefford said. "We didn't play with the confidence we needed to. This season we have really picked that up. Thursday night is going to be a battle."

It always is a battle when these two teams clash. The Americans suffered a setback of their own when Sweden upset them in the 2006 semifinals in Turin. But obviously they are back on track with their play at the past two world championships.

"This is what we've waited for," Canada's Hayley Wickenheiser said. "This is what everyone around North America wanted to see. It always comes down to one game against them.

"We look at it like unfinished business."

That unfinished business was evident in Canada's training to regain top spot. Canada coach Melody Davidson put her players through a summer boot camp in Dawson Creek, B.C., that started with a long-distance run first thing in the morning and ended with some on-ice sessions in the evening. In between, there was work in the weight room, yoga classes and kickboxing lessons.

The Canadian women also engaged in an ambitious 31-game schedule, beginning in late September, against Alberta boys' midget teams. This was 10 more games than they played against Alberta boys' teams in preparation for the 2006 Olympics.

"Hockey is a Canadian game and it's our job to make Canadians proud," Hefford said. "This so-called pressure that people keep talking about, I don't feel it. This is fun.

"The whole city is rallying around us."

Canada enters the final on a 14-game win streak at the Olympics, dating back to its loss against the U.S. in the 1998 gold-medal game.

At these Games, Canada has outscored Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden and Finland by a combined score of 46-2. The United States beat China, Russia, Finland and Sweden by a combined 40-2 total.

The North American rivals had two common opponents in Vancouver. Canada defeated Sweden 13-1, then Finland 5-0 in the semifinal on Monday. The U.S. beat Finland 6-0, then Sweden 9-1 in the semifinal.

So there isn't much distinction between the two teams. But the rivalry sure hasn't softened over time.

"No, I would say quite the opposite," Jennifer Botterill said. "The [rivalry] has got more intense.

There is plenty of familiarity between the Canadian and U.S. women. In fact, Wickenheiser and Hefford are two of four Canadian women who have played in four Olympics. The others are Becky Kellar and Botterill. Angela Ruggiero and Jenny Potter have played in the past four Olympics for the United States.

"We realize [the U.S. team is] what pushes us," Hefford said. "It's always fun to play against the best. It's going to be a great night.

Some girls know each other on both teams, but when the puck drops it's Canada against the U.S. and there are no friends out there."

Canada will have plenty of friends in the robust crowd at Canada Hockey Place, something that has spurred them on in Vancouver.

"It could be worth a gold medal," Wickenheiser said.