The Winter Olympics will open in Vancouver...
the semi-final. Canada, named a likely champion of the 2006 Turin Olympics, didn"t make it to the finals either.Incidentally, Canada is a frontrunner again this year, on a par with Russia. Canadian hockey fans are dreaming of a final match between the Russian and Canadian teams, keeping in mind their performance in the latest world championships and Russian victories. They are ready to forget all other medals, just as long as they win the hockey gold.
Canadians, by the way, love Russian hockey players, who are currently among the best NHL players, including Alexander Ovechkin, an uncontested NHL star of the past two seasons; Ilya Kovalchuk, whose recent transfer to Jersey was such a high-profile event; Yevgeny Malkin, the most valuable player of the last year"s Stanley Cup; and Yevgeny Nabokov, NHL"s best European goalkeeper. Oh yes, Canadians do love them, but they fear them too, and will view them as their worst enemies for the next two weeks.