Canada Has Look of a Winner; U.S. Is Going for Third Place

Canada has never lost to any team but the U.S. in international competition, a streak that probably will continue today and bring Canada its second gold medal in three Olympic tournaments.

A couple of reasons why, thanks to the Turin 2006 information system: Canada has 65,691 registered female hockey players, 14,000 indoor and outdoor arenas and 2,667 women’s club teams. Sweden has 2,910 registered female players, 445 arenas and 80 women’s club teams. With that much depth and opportunity, Canada figures to be unbeatable. Sweden’s best player is goalie Kim Martin, but she’d have to play the game of her life for Sweden to compete well.

The U.S., still stung by a semifinal shootout loss to Sweden on Friday, will face Finland for the bronze medal.

A victory would complete an Olympic medal set, following the team’s gold-medal triumph in 1998 and silver-medal finish in 2002 behind Canada.