|
 |
Canadian, Russian women face off Tuesday in W.V.
By Zack Van Eyck
Defending world champion Canada will find out just how improved Team Russia is Wednesday when the two nations clash in a preliminary-round women's ice hockey game at 11 a.m. in the E Center.
The top-seeded Canadians, who easily defeated eighth-seeded Kazakhstan in their Olympic opener Monday, will need a win over Russia or against fourth-seeded Sweden on Saturday to advance into the medal round.
Russia placed third in the Women's World Championships last year, its best-ever finish in that event, and played close games against Canada, losing 5-1, and the United States, falling 6-1. In the world tournament just a year earlier, Russia lost 15-0 to the U.S.
Canadian players say Russia's recent improvement won't change how they approach the game.
"Being a Canadian hockey player, every time you get on the ice it doesn't matter what the game is, you simply play and you play to the best of your capability," said Canadian forward Cassie Campbell.
"We take every World Championship seriously, every Four Nations Cup seriously, every game against the United States seriously as well as every game against other countries."
Also Wednesday, fourth-seeded Sweden meets Kazakhstan at 2 p.m. in Provo's Peaks Ice Arena.
Today, the second-seeded Americans open play against seventh-seeded Germany at 11 a.m. at the E Center, and at 2 p.m., Finland and China will play at the Peaks.
|
|
February 12, 2002
|
