There are two different senses about Team Canada and Team Russia here in Canada with Olympics just days away.
There seems to be this sense of great confidence, even invincibility about the Russians. They are a ridiculous offensive juggernaut with arguably the best goaltending in their country's history. They are led by the best player on the planet, but more importantly he has set the tone for the team. The Russians are coming all on the same page all with the same goal - win Olympic gold and open the Sochi 2014 Olympics as defending gold medal champions. It will be a great victory, and to do it on Canadian ice would be that much sweeter.
The sense of Team Canada here in Canada is not the same. It is a sense of nervousness, especially about the Russians. Winning the gold medal on home ice under so much pressure seems almost improbable, especially in such an unforgiving tournament set up. The sense is a gold would not be so much a great victory so much as a great relief. The players may not be uniformly driven to win so much as they are just trying to survive.
We better not forget Sweden, USA, Finland, Slovakia and Czech Republic in all of this, as they all have their own golden aspirations. One thing is for sure - no matter who wins, hockey is the winner.
3 comments:
Hi Joe. The Russians look awesome and I believe Kovalchuk is as talented as Ovechkin, just a little less flashy. But all you have to do is listen to my wife, who is Russian.She doesn't trust them anymore, regardless of the talent on the team. She believes Russian players are only for themselves now, money first, country second. And so she has no faith, even with all the talent. And she has finally decided that her heart is with Team Canada. She's been in Canada for eight years now and is proud to be Canadian and loves her new country with all her heart. She doesn't believe the Russians will do it.
Dennis
You speak that your wife from Russia and 8 years lives in Canada? Probably it not in a course of that that now occurs in Russia. 8 years ago in Russia there was no the good team, all hockey players played for the money instead of for the country. Here your wife of the right. But now all has changed. Ovechkin, Malkin, Kovalchuk and other players is new generation players and they patriots of Russia. They have proved it win last 2 World championships. All players very much wish to play for Team Russia, now it became a great honour.
The Russian team has arrived to Vancouver to win. But here many worthy contenders. Take gold 7 teams can. But in one I is assured - a Russian players will give all forces for the sake of a victory.
I don't agree with you and your wife. Russian likes their native land.
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