Vancouver View - Canada Thrashes Russia in Hockey; Vonn Crashes in Giant Slalom

(ATR) Canada vs. Russia. Sid the Kid vs. Alexander the Great. The 1972 Summit Series. Do or die. All the history and hype came down to one night at the Olympics, with a Canadian squad holding the weight of a nation on their shoulders.

It had been 50 long years since they had beaten Russia in Olympic hockey, and they showed up ready to play.

The drought against their long-time international hockey rivals ended in spectacular fashion, as the Canadians came out fast and furious and beat the Russians 7-3 before a raucous hometown crowd.

Many had predicted these two teams to face-off in the gold medal final, but lackluster efforts during the preliminary round forced the much-hyped match-up between the two hockey superpowers to be played in the quarterfinal.

The Canadians fed off the home crowd inside Canada Hockey Place, in what was most likely the loudest game in the history of the venue.

“It's a pretty amazing atmosphere,” said Canadian star Sidney Crosby, who was held without a point in the contest. “We always talk about the Canada-Russia rivalry, and we felt it more than ever in this building.”

The Canadians now face Slovakia in Friday's semi-final match-up, while the USA will square off against Finland.

Vonn Misses out in Giant Slalom

U.S. speed queen Lindsey Vonn crashed out of the women's Olympic giant slalom, leaving Austrian Elisabeth Goergl favorite to win the event.

The International Ski Federation was forced to postpone the second run yesterday due to thick fog to ensure the safety of athletes. It will take place today at 9:30 a.m.

Vonn, who has bagged a downhill gold and Super-G bronze but also crashed out in the super-combined, was on course to post a fast time before wiping out when she misjudged a gate and lost control.

"I'm disappointed with myself. I knew the snow was breaking up on the bottom. I got too much inside the gate then lost the outside ski,” she was quoted by AFP.

Taina Barioz of France was second fastest going into the second run of the competition, with Austria’s Kathrin Zettel in third place.

Meanwhile, FIS president Gian Franco Kasper has defended the Whistler course on which there have been a series of crashes during the Games.

Skiers can reach speeds of 120 kph on certain parts of the 2,939-meter Franz's Run course and some of the jumps have provided a tough test for racers.

Kasper said course conditions have been “excellent”. "It was a little fast perhaps for the ladies' speed events, but I really have to congratulate them,” he was quoted by AFP. "I do not think it was dangerous. They are professionals and know exactly how far they can go."

Medal Joy for Canada in Bobsleigh

Canada’s Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse won the women's Olympic bobsleigh gold with their compatriots Helen Upperton and Shelly-Ann Brown bagging silver.

They were the host nation’s first ever medals in the women's discipline, which was introduced to the Olympic program in 2002. Bronze went to Erin Pac and Elana Meyers of the U.S.

The women’s competition was characterized by a series of dramatic accidents on Wednesday, with teams from Germany and Britain, both favorite to medal, surviving high-speed crashes.

Safety concerns were also a talking point during training for themen's four-man bobsleigh event on the track which claimed the life of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili in a tragic accident on the eve of the Games.

On Wednesday, Netherland's bobsleigh pilot Edwin van Calker pulled his four-man sled out of competition citing safety issues. He said the decision stemmed from his crash in the two-man event, the death of Kumaritashvili and family pressure. The course at the Whistler Sliding Centre is one of the fastest in the world. The four-man bobsleigh competition begins Friday.

Grieving Rochette Seeks Skating Medal

Figure skating fans will find out tonight if Canadian Joannie Rochettecan medal just days after the death of her mother. Rochette is in thirdplace heading into the free skate. Rochette trails leader Kim Yu-Na ofSouth Korea by 7.14 points. Rochette will be the second to last skaterto perform at the No. 23 position.

Her mother Therese Rochette, 55, died Saturday night, hours afterarriving in Vancouver from Montreal to watch Therese skate. A heartattack was the suspected cause of death. Kim Yu-Na remains favorite to become the first South Korean Olympic figure skating champion.

Women's Gold Medal Hockey Match

Canada and the USA will again square off in the women's hockey Olympic final. They were overwhelming favorites to reach the final. Both countries have shared every gold medal in the history of the sport whether at the Olympics or world championships apart from at Turin 2006 when Sweden upset the U.S. in the semifinals.

Neither team has faced any really challenges in Vancouver. The U.S. has outscored it four opponents by 40-2. Not to be outdone in front of their home crowd, Canada has outscored its opponents by 46-2 including a record-breaking 18-0 performance against Slovakia to open the Games.

Procter& Gamble Hosts Olympic Guests

New U.S. Olympic Committee sponsor Procter & Gamble is playing its part in providing a place of rest for the families of U.S. Olympians. The P & G Family Home has opened its doors to athletes and their entire families. More than 3500 people have taken advantage of its hospitality.

The five-story facility has different spaces for both large and small groups to gather and relax. It is designed to accommodate any family needs, from providing a meeting point to laundry and food services. The Pringles Room is equipped with a Wii to entertain children of all ages, and visitors can also enjoy spa services elsewhere.

“Having this place to come to has taken so much stress off our trip,” says Maura Bellamy, mother of U.S. women’s hockey player Casey Bellamy. P & G covered the airfares for 216 mothers whose offspring are competing as athletes at the Vancouver Games.

The Great Vancouver Walk-Off: Rest Day Coming Up?

Officials are considering a request to one of the Great Vancouver Walk-off competitors to take a rest day as a way to help balance the lopsided score.

At the end of the 13th full day of competition, Around the Rings publisher Sheila Hula still holds a commanding lead over editor Ed Hula, recording 63.17 km to his 24.25 km in the Olympic Walking competition.

Rule 16(c) allows officials to order a rest day for one or more competitors if they feel they are over-exerting themselves or if one has out-distanced the field in such a way that results could embarrass the governing body.

The ATR editor apparently is taking it all in stride, so to speak. “I don’t mind,” he responded to a question from the media. “She has great legs. Much better than mine, obviously.”

The Great Vancouver Walk-off is the only competition that lasts all 17 days of the Games. Results will be verified via the VANOC-branded pedometers contained in kits for accredited media. They will be updated throughout the competition period on AroundTheRings.com and @aroundtherings.com on Twitter. Video highlights will be available on YouTube. Fans can send messages of support to either contestant (or both) at Walk2010@aroundtherings.com.

Medal Events Feb. 25

Ladies Giant Slalom, Ladies' Cross Country Skiing 4X5 km Relay/Classic, Ladies Hockey, Nordic Combined, Ladies Figure Skating, Men's Aerials.

Medal Table

The U.S. top the table with 28 medals. Germany have 24 and Norway 18. The U.S., Germany and Canada all have seven golds.

Weather

Vancouver – Light rain, high 9c, low 5c

Whistler— Mixed precipitation, high 4c, low 2c

Cypress Mountain – Light rain, high 3c, low 1c

With reporting from Todd Lawson, Mark Bissonand Sam Steinberg

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