Winter Olympics Hockey Preview

1980 seems almost like ancient history. A paradigm shift so profound, that even even fighter pilots of the U.S. Navy were bragging to Soviet intelligence frigates that were flying overhead. The news was epic. A rougueish group of upstart college kids from all over the United States, who had only been skating together for a few months, had upset a seasoned Soviet team who's coronation in the news meant that the Gold medal was not only assured, but was in the bag.

And yet, standing on that Gold Medal podium in 1980, was that group of college kids who had performed what is now known as the Miracle on Ice. The story is legend. And it was the last great moment in US Olympic Hockey history until the women's hockey team captured gold in the inagural women's tournament at Nagano 18 years later.

Since then, the Olympic sport has gone mostly pro, with the NHL running the ice. Superstars taking a break from their season in order to play for their country. But in the three Olympics that have been all pro, the U.S. Hockey team is nearly on the outside looking in. Even with the presence of Team Captain Chris Chellios, making his fourth appearance at the Games, the U.S. is once again expected to be on the outside.

The problem? It seems that U.S. coach Peter Laviolette doesn't think taking the best goalie in the league (Buffalo Sabres Ryan Miller) was a priority, instead opting for a goalie with a nagging groin injury and a high goal percentage. Philadelphia Flyers Robert Esche is having a bad year so far. He's been out with the injury, has allowed five goals in fifteen shots since returning, and is facing a daunting task going up against powerhouses Sweden, Russia, and Slovakia. And that's just to get to the medal rounds.

Miller, on the other hand, has been playing with a broken thumb and is still 9-3. Chelios may be having a career year, prompting his inclusion as team captain, but the point is mute if the goalie can't keep the puck out of the net.

Meanwhile, Czech Republic's goalie Dominik Hasek is expected to give everyone fits and he starts his fourth Olympic tourney. In spite of a lackluster team performance in Salt Lake City four years ago, Hasek had a goals against average just over 2. No medals in 02 was a far cry from Nagano in 1998, where the Czech's took gold behind Hasek's shut out of the Russians. And with Hasek enjoying 3 shutouts already in the early hockey season, the Czech's will certainly be in the hunt.

Without a doubt, Canada is the team to beat. Though team director Wayne Gretsky has been dividing his time with coaching the Phoenix Coyotes, his hands are all over Team Canada much as it was in 2002, when, after a fifty year hockey drought, they won Olympic gold and began a streak which included back to back world titles, taking the World Cup away from the US, and two world junior hockey championships. That's ending a drought more with a flood.

But if Team Russia has anything to say about it, Canada won't be a slam dunk to defend Olympic Gold. In fact, Team Russia is down right hungry to get Gold back. And even though they probably won't meet the Great One's team until the medal round, a Canada-Russia matchup is sure to be THE ticket to get in Torino.