The Relationship of the Canada Cup with Respect to the Winter Olympics Hockey Tournament - By Moses

In 1976 the First Canada Cup was played. Cherry tipped Sittler and we beat the Soviet Union as Sittler took Tretiak wide. Canada beat Czechoslavakia in the Finals and Rogie Vachon took home Team MVP for the Tournament. Bobby Orr was named the MVP of the Tournament. As the Montreal Canadiens took home every Stanley Cup from then to 1979 came the 1980 Winter Olympics, hosted by Lake Placid in New York State. The U.S.A versus the U.S.S.R was played in the Finals. A heavily favoured Goliath, in the U.S.S.R was defeated by the U.S.A, symbolically David. This upcoming Winter Olympic Classic is being held in Canada for the first time in 22 years, since Calgary host the Winter Classic. During this years Winter Classic in Vancouver, B.C, Canada, here is an in-depth analysis of the Teams going into the Tourney.

1. Canada - Sidney Crosby Chris Pronger Jarome Iginla Rick Nash
2. U.S.A - Mike Modano Phil Kessel Patrick Kane
3. Sweden - Niklas Lidstrom Henrik Sedin Daniel Sedin
4. Russia - Evgeni Malkin Alexander Ovechkin Ilya Kovalchuck
5. Finland - Teemu Selanne Mikka Kiprosoff
6. Czech Republic - Tomas Kaberle Tomas Vokoun
7. Slovakia - Zdena Chara Marian Hossa
8. Germany - Marco Sturm
9. Switzerland - Jonus Hiller


Gordie Howe used to say 'Shoulder Up' to get the call against Elbowing. With the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada's Chris Pronger will probably get the call, as will Nash and Crosby, likewise. The physical Chara and Ovechkin will likely shine. Considering that this is Teemu Selanne' last Winter Olympics, I consider Finland to be a 'Darkhorse' in the running, likewise Czech Republic. With excellent Goaltending, each Nation in the upcoming Tournament has a promise of fulfilling Gold. Martin Brodeur, Ryan Miller, Henrik Lundquist, Evgeni Nabokov, Mikko Kiprisoff, Tomas Vokoun, Jonas Hiller, are all excellent Netminders.