Canada have made a long awaited statement in the men’s Ice Hockey tournament and silenced their critics after defeating the highly rated Russian team 7-3 at Canada Hockey Place.

The emphatic victory, was Canada’s first against Russia in Olympic competition since 1960 in Squaw Valley.

The Canadians outmuscled the Russians early to race to a quick 3-0 and then 4-1 lead early on in the first period. From then on, the hometown heroes never looked back.

Cody Perry starred with two goals in a game where the two superstars, Canadian Sidney Crosby and Russian Alexander Ovechkin were quiet offensively.

Crosby praised his teammates ability to shut down the 2009 NHL MVP Ovechkin, “They did a great job, not only on Ovechkin but on their top guys”

“We played a great game”

A devastated Ovechkin, had only praise for the Canucks.

“They were simply better tuned than we were. We are practically at the same level but today, they had more focus.”

“Don’t judge a team by one game. We are still strong.”

The loss was Russia’s second biggest defeat in Olympic Winter Games history. Their largest was a 5-0 drubbing to the hands of Finland in Lillehammer 1994.

The Canadians meet the winner of the Slovakia vs Sweden game in the semi-finals, and if they advance could face the United States in what would surely be one of the most hyped gold medal matches in recent history.

Tom Read
AOC - Vancouver