The Women win it!

excerpts from MSN Sympatico News

Canadian women win gold at Winter Games; Gretzky tries to rally men
20/02/2006 7:35:00 PM
Canada's Hayley Wickenheiser, centre, holds her son Noah as she poses with teammates for a picture following their 4-1 victory over Team Sweden to win the gold medal in women's hockey at the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games Monday, in Turin. (CP PHOTO/Paul Chiasson)

TURIN, Italy (CP) - The Canadian women's hockey team got the job done at the Winter Olympics. Now Wayne Gretzky and the men's team are on the hot seat.

"We showed Hockey Canada is dominant," veteran forward Danielle Goyette said. "This makes it worth everything we did, all the months we spent working on this day. We didn't end up with the final matchup we expected, but we got the same result."

The Canadian women's hockey team came to the Olympics better prepared than any other country because they spent more time practising together and they played more competitive games.
They were deeper in individual talent, particularly up front and in goal, and had the most cohesive team game, which was the reason for their 46-2 margin in goals against their opposition at the Games. Canada did not give up an even-strength goal over five games in the tournament.

Wickenheiser dominant player in Olympic women's hockey despite injury

· Canada defends Olympic gold medal in women's hockey with dominant performance
· Women's team veterans ponder future after second straight Olympic gold


On the slopes, skiers Kelly VanderBeek and Francois Bourque just missed the podium, finishing fourth.
VanderBeek, a 23-year-old native of Kitchener, Ont., was fourth in the women's super-G while New Richmond, Que., native Bourque was also fourth in the giant slalom.
Max Gartner, Alpine Canada's chief athletic officer, said it was a good experience for the young skiers.
"We know that most of the medals come in their second Olympics," he said. "These are tremendous experiences for these guys to feel what it's like to be right there."
VanderBeek came close to becoming the first Canadian woman in 14 years to win an Olympic alpine skiing medal. "I'm happy but I'm devastated at the same time," said VanderBeek.
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