Does Canada Have What It Takes In Men's Hockey? – The Sports Junkie At The 2010 Winter Olympics

We won’t get fooled again.

At least that’s what Team Canada and the 16,000+ on hand at Canada Hockey Place, including yours truly, thought heading into Thursday’s game vs. Switzerland. The Swiss, you may remember, shocked the hockey world four years ago by upsetting the Canadians 2-0 at the last Olympic Games in Turin. Canada would go on to finish well out of medal contention that year, placing a disappointing 7th – one spot behind, you guessed it, Switzerland.

When Canada’s Patrick Marleau staked his fellow countrymen to a 2-0 lead early in the 2nd period, Canada seemed well on their way to vindicating that loss back in ‘06.

Hold your horses.

Sidney Crosby Would Not Be Denied vs. Switzerland

Two quick goals by Switzerland at the end of 2nd tied the game 2-2. The Canadians were on the verge of suffering another humiliating loss at the hands of the Swiss. Heading into the 3rd period, it was time to find out what Team Canada was really made of.

This time around, Canada was up to the task.

If not for the heroics of Swiss goaltender Jonas Hiller, Canada – who outshot their counterparts 18-3 in the final frame – surely would have achieved their desired result in regulation time. But after a 5-minute overtime frame solved nothing, the home team’s mettle would be put to the test in dramatic fashion – a heart-wrenching shootout.

It is moments like these where your leaders step up and heroes are made. Playing those roles Thursday night for Canada were Sidney Crosby and Martin Brodeur.

Here’s a look at how the drama unfolded, from my personal vantage point inside the raucous arena:

Despite the all-important victory, critics and the entire hockey nation are quick to chastise the Canadians for not beating the Swiss with greater ease, suggesting their supposed sub-par performance no longer makes them the frontrunners to win the gold.

I couldn’t disagree more.

Sure, the defense looked shaky at times and the overall chemistry of the team is still somewhat in question. But a win of this magnitude means a lot more than most experts are willing to concede. Canada can build greatly on this victory. For starters, it takes the Swiss monkey off their backs and allows them some necessary breathing room in the Group A standings. But it also proves that in a pressure situation, Canada’s two most important players – Crosby and Brodeur – will be up to the task.

The same can’t necessarily be said for the other gold medal favourite – Team Russia – who’s also under tremendous national pressure to win gold. Their superstar, Alex Ovechkin, failed to come through in the clutch Thursday night, missing two key shootout attempts during a shocking 2-1 shootout loss at the hands of Slovakia.

So what did we learn from Thursday’s results? Well, as Switzerland and Slovakia both proved, one thing’s for sure – there really are no “gimmies” in this tournament anymore.

The other? That this tournament is FAR from over. Yes, the gold remains up for grabs – but it’s Canada who maintains, in my opinion, the position as front runner to bring home the hardware.

Next up for Canada – an all-important date with the Americans on Sunday. Let the real Games begin.