Canada's golden girls do it again!

Day 12

Medal Count
# Country-----------Gold--Silver--Bronze--Total
1 Germany-----------9------8-------5--------22
2 Austria-----------8------6-------5--------19
3 United States-----7------7-------4--------18
4 Canada------------5------8-------5--------18
5 Norway------------2------8-------8--------18
6 Russia------------7------3-------6--------16

Canada's Crawford wins sprint gold!

Canada's Chandra Crawford stunned the women's cross-country field as she captured the gold medal in the 1.1-kilometre sprint at the Torino Winter Games Wednesday. In her Olympic debut, Crawford stormed to the lead early in the race on Pragelato Plan course. She held her lead over Germany's Claudia Kuenzel and pulled away to win in a time of two minutes, 12.3 seconds. Kuenzel edged out Russian Alena Sidko to earn the silver in 2:13.0. Sidko won the bronze medal in a time 2:13.2 while Beckie Scott of Vermilon, Alta., (2:14.7 ) finished fourth in the four-woman final.

Crawford may be the surprise gold medallist, but her performance was dominant. While the other three competitors laboured, Crawford broke out with a smile a few metres before she crossed the finish line. The race showed how much endurance the 22-year-old had over her opponents.

"She was clearly the class of the group, used the same strategy she used in the quarter-finals and bolted up that last hill," CBC cross-country ski analyst Jack Sasseville said of Crawford.

Crawford is only in her second year on the national team and her best finish prior to the Olympics was a 10th-place showing on the World Cup circuit earlier this season. She was 46th at the world championships last year. What makes this win so surprising is that Crawford only took up the sport of cross-country skiing at 16 after five years as a biathlete.

"I don't think in her wildest dreams [she thought she] would be standing on the top step," said Sasseville.

Scott posted the fastest time of the 66-athlete field in the qualification round. Then in the quarter-final race, Scott's powerful skate-skiing technique propelled her to a comfortable lead. However, she used bad judgment in her lane changes and couldn't catch the leaders.

Klassen gold, Groves silver in 1,500

Cindy Klassen's fourth medal of the Torino Olympic Winter Games was pure gold as she and teammate Kristina Groves placed 1-2 in Wednesday's women's 1,500 metre long-track speed skating event.

"This is awesome, it's awesome for Canada," Klassen told CBC Sports. "Both of us skated amazing races."

It was Canada's second whoop-up of the day as skier Chandra Crawford of Canmore, Alta., won gold in the women's cross-country sprint in a dazzling Olympic debut. Klassen blitzed German rival and defending champion Anni Friesinger in the penultimate pairing, pulling ahead with 400 metres left and crossing the finish line in one minute, 55.27 seconds.

"She is so strong," CBC Sports analyst Catriona Le May Doan said of the Winnipeg native, who set a world record of 1:51.79 in World Cup competition last Nov. 20.

Klassen has won a Canadian record four medals at Turin – gold in the 1,500, silvers in the 1,000 and team pursuit, and bronze in the 3,000 – with the 5,000 still to come on Saturday.

Swimmers Elaine Tanner and Anne Ottenbrite won three medals apiece in the 1968 and 1984 Summer Olympics, respectively.

"I came into the Games wanting to just enjoy every moment and that is what I've done," Klassen said. "I think that's what has made me relax during the races and perform well."


Groves, from Ottawa, skated brilliantly in the 15th of 18 pairings, tactically pacing herself to win the silver medal in 1:56.74.

"I knew I had a really good one and I was so happy with that, no matter the outcome," Groves said.

"I just had a clean race and never really had a big drop-off. Finishing 1-2, it's just the best."

Canadian women win short-track silver

Canadians have won the silver medal in the women's short-track relay event. The South Korean team won the gold medal while the Italians claimed the bronze. The strong Chinese team was disqualified.

The Canadian team of Alanna Kraus, Anouk Leblanc-Boucher, Kalyna Roberge and Tania Vicent headed into the competition as strong contenders. The team is the reigning world champion. It also captured one gold medal, one silver and two bronze during 2005-2006 World Cup competition, and is ranked second in the world. Canadians won the bronze medal in this event at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Kraus is the only member of that Canadian relay team who competed Wednesday.

More curse of the 4th place
Helen Upperton (pilot), Calgary, and Heather Moyse, Summerside, P.E.I., finished fourth with a combined time of 3:51.06 for four runs just 0.05 seconds behind the bronze medallists in Women's two Bobsled on Tuesday. This makes nine fourth place finishes for Canada, eight with an average margin of less than .30 seconds.

Gushue curls into final

Canada's Brad Gushue will play for Olympic gold after an 11-5 semifinal win in nine ends over American Pete Fenson on Wednesday at the Torino Winter Games. Gushue takes on Markku Uusipaavalniemi of Finland in the gold medal game Friday.

Uusipaavalniemi, the 2000 European champion and a two-time bronze medallist at the world championships, defeated David Murdoch of Great Britain 4-3 in the other semifinal. Murdoch will play Fenson on Friday (7:00 a.m. EST) for the bronze medal.

Gushue put pressure on Fenson from the outset Wednesday. With Canada lying three in the first end, Fenson was forced to execute a delicate tap-back to score one. Gushue took the lead in the second, making a nice take-out amid a crowded house to count two. After Fenson evened the score with a draw for one in the third, Gushue jumped to a 4-2 lead after four ends by knocking his own stone into Fenson's and sending it toward the outside of the house. With Canada lying two on the button in the fifth, Fenson escaped trouble by knocking Canada's shot stone just far enough away from the pinhole to rescue a point. But Gushue went up by three in the next end when, lying one, he tapped his guard back just enough to edge an American stone and pick up two. Fenson blanked the seventh end, then cut Gushue's lead to 6-5 with a draw for two to close the eighth. After Gushue took out the only American stone in the house to score five with the final shot of the ninth end, the teams shook hands.

Disappointment for Kleibrink

Canada's Shannon Kleibrink can win nothing better than a bronze medal following Wednesday's 7-5 semifinal loss to Switzerland at the Torino Olympic Winter Games. Kleibrink battles Norway's Dordi Norby for the bronze Thursday at Pinerolo, located 50 kilometres outside Turin.

Norby, winner of consecutive world titles in 1990-91, lost the other semifinal 5-4 to reigning world champion Anette Norberg, who goes for gold against Swiss skip Mirjam Ott. Canada claimed medals in each of the two previous Olympic competitions, with the late Sandra Schmirler winning gold at Nagano in 1998 and Kelley Law bronze at Salt Lake City four years ago.

Kleibrink took a 1-0 lead on Ott in the second end but struggled to regain the upper hand after that. Ott surged ahead in the third, splitting her guards to count three after Kleibrink was long on a freeze. Kleibrink drew against two to score one in the fourth, but relinquished singles over the next two ends to fall behind 5-2. Kleibrink nearly pulled off a sensational runback in the sixth, barely missing Switzerland's shot rock, which was grazing the pinhole. Kleibrink cut the deficit to 5-4 in the seventh, drawing last rock to the button with opposite stones nestled to its right to score two on a measurement. But her wayward draw to the eight-foot in the eighth permitted Ott to tap back for two and a 7-4 lead. Kleibrink was forced to draw for one in the ninth following a pair of remarkably accurate takeouts by Ott, the first a double that removed Canadian shot rocks sandwiched between Swiss stones.

Kleibrink, who curls out of Calgary, posted a 6-3 record during round-robin play, but needed a last-rock victory in the final draw to clinch a playoff berth.

Russia ousts Canada from Olympics

Canada's men won't repeat as Olympic hockey champions after suffering a 2-0 loss to Russia in a quarter-final game on Wednesday. Alexander Ovechkin's power-play goal 90 seconds into the third period stood as the winner, while Evgeni Nabokov made 27 saves for his third shutout of the tournament in Turin, Italy. Ovechkin, who leads all NHL rookies in scoring this season, took a pass from Viktor Kozlov and lifted the puck over fallen Canadian goalie Martin Brodeur. Alex Kovalev added a power-play goal for good measure with 23 seconds left.

The Russians will have to find an answer for Finnish winger Teemu Selanne, who has six goals and nine points in the tourney. But the Anaheim Mighty Ducks sniper will have to face a red-hot Nabokov. Hot and cold this season with the San Jose Sharks, he has been brilliant in Turin. Nabokov stood tall late in the third period, preserving a 1-0 lead while facing a barrage of shots by the Canadians, who went scoreless in 11 of their last 12 periods.

Brodeur turned aside 31 shots while playing with a brace on his left knee that was injured Tuesday when Czech forward Petr Cajanek fell on the New Jersey Devils goaltender in the crease. It was the third consecutive 2-0 loss for the Canada at Torino Esposizioni, following setbacks against Switzerland and Finland. Canada's power play, which struggled throughout the tournament, went 0-for-8. Captain Joe Sakic said his team didn't create enough scoring chances when up a man and didn't do the little things to get the puck in the net.

"It's a different game here," Sakic said, "but I never thought scoring would have been a problem.

"On the big [Olympic-size] ice surface, I think we were trying to be too cute and not playing our [forechecking and physical] game."


Canada played the third period without forward Simon Gagne, who took a hard hit from Darius Kasparaitis in the opening 20 minutes.

Austrian drug scandal update

The president of the Austrian ski federation revealed that two athletes "may have used illegal methods" at the Torino Olympic Winter Games. Federation president Peter Schroecksnadel told reporters Tuesday that Wolfgang Perner and Wolfgang Rottman, both of whom fled Italy when the team's Olympic residences were raided by local police last Sunday evening, confessed to sports director Markus Gandler.

Schroecksnadel did not elaborate, noting only that the skiers have been kicked off the national team and that a commission is being set up to investigate.

"Team Austria is a small group and we live in close proximity to each other," said biathlete Ludwig Gredler, who has competed in five Olympics. "But naturally, I cannot know what happens in other rooms.

"I know I am clean and have taken nothing. But I cannot speak for my teammates."



Later,
Kenaz

Canada Czech mate.

Day 11

Team Canada prevails over Czechs

Wayne Gretzky, the most prolific scorer in hockey history, wanted more goals and commitment. And what Gretzky wants, he usually gets. Team Canada responded to Gretzky's edict with its most determined effort of the Torino Olympics, a 3-2 victory over the Czech Republic on Tuesday before a lively crowd of 9,126 at Turin's Palasport Olimpico.

"Every game is a stepping stone in getting better and getting to the final game," Gretzky told CBC Sports.

"I thought our guys played really hard and got our feet wet with a nice win. It's do or die now."

Canada concluded the preliminary round with a 3-2-0 record, good for third place in Group A, and plays Russia in Wednesday's quarter-finals. Gretzky, Team Canada's executive director, criticized its lack of enthusiasm in consecutive shutout losses to Switzerland and Finland, calling for the younger players to better support core veterans like captain Joe Sakic. Head coach Pat Quinn went so far as to call Canada's performance versus Finland "kind of dopey," but the youngsters responded against the Czechs with Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis counting the first two goals to ramp up the team offensively.

"We competed," Quinn claimed. "We did some good things tonight and we're going to try to remember those good things and build off it."


Call it a character win but not necessarily a convincing one as Canada sagged at times, and, if not for the alert goaltending of Martin Brodeur in the third period, might not have come out on top. The Czechs outshot Canada 12-2 in the third and 33-16 overall.

"They took it to us pretty good, give them credit," Brodeur said. "But we were able to hold on.

"We'll hopefully take some positives off this. Although there were some negatives, it's time to be positive."

Chris Pronger, fingered for failing to finish checks and taking needless cross-checking penalties in earlier outings, led the Canadians with one goal and one assist.

"Finally getting a win after a couple of (bad) games gives everyone a lift," he said.

"I have never seen anyone fall off a mountain halfway through a tournament," Gretzky said. "We've got a long way to go here."

Pavel Kubina and Petr Cajanek tallied the goals for the injury-riddled Czech Republic (2-3-0), which finished fourth in Group A. It plays Slovakia in the quarter-finals.

Richards opened the scoring 7:37 into the contest, sweeping into the Czech zone and scoring his second goal of the tournament on a weak shot that fooled Tomas Vokoun between the pads. More importantly, it ended Canada's alarming scoring drought at 129 minutes, 11 seconds – more than two games. Less than seven minutes later, Vincent Lecavalier cycled the puck down low to St. Louis, who banked it in off Vokoun's stick from an awkward angle to make it 2-0. For St. Louis, it was his second goal and came with Frantisek Kaberle serving a hooking penalty. Pronger then stepped into a slap shot and blew it by Vokoun for his first with 36 seconds left in the period.

"We tried to start better and score a couple of quick goals and it was a big plus when we did that," said Team Canada forward Simon Gagne.

Vokoun was lifted in favour of Milan Hnilicka following the first period, in which Canada counted three goals on eight shots. Hnilicka was tested early in the second period, denying St. Louis on a breakaway and with an extended pad save moments later. Brodeur was equally sharp at the other end, smothering a loose puck on the goal-line and reaching high to snare a rising slap shot off the stick of Jaromir Jagr. Skating 5-on-3, the Czechs finally hit the board as Kubina's slap shot eluded Brodeur high to the blocker side with 6:14 left in the second.

"We ended up sitting back a bit and they started to come," Sakic explained. "But there were a lot of good things and a lot of things guys did better."

The Czechs applied relentless pressure early in the third and were rewarded when Cajanek's wrist shot handcuffed Brodeur 2:41 into the period. Cajanek nearly tied it less than a minute later, but Brodeur reached back to make a splendid stick save and retain the margin of victory.

Later,
Kenaz

Bernardo confessed to more crimes

CBC News reported this morning that convicted child killer and devils son Paul Bernardo has confessed to at least 10 more sexual assaults, according to a published report.

Bernardo asked his lawyer to relay the confession to authorities in order to clear up some loose ends in his case, said the Toronto Star.

Convicted in 1995, Bernardo is serving a life sentence for 14 rapes and the murders of teenagers Kristin French and Leslie Mahaffy. He claims he committed the new series of rapes between 1986 and 1991.

He has been declared a dangerous offender, which will keep him in prison indefinitely.

His former wife, Karla Homolka, told police in 1993 that Bernardo told her he had raped as many as 30 women.

Homolka, who served 12 years in prison for her role in the slayings, finished her sentence in July.

* INDEPTH: Bernardo and Homolka

Later,
Kenaz

Time Line Of Kidnapping In Iraq of Four Aid Workers

Image of Briton Norman Kember from the hostage video

Image of Thomas Fox, an American from Virginia, from the hostage video.

Image of Canadian Harmeet Singh Sooden--a resident of New Zealand. Image of James Loney, of Canada.

November 26, 2005
Four Christian Peacemaker Team mebers two Canadians,an American and one British on an aid mission in Baghdad are taken at gunpoint on Saturday.

November 28, 2005
A video showing the four men sitting on the ground, and the passport belonging to one of them is aired on Iraqi News Station Al-Jazeera. A time stamp indicates the video was recorded on Nov. 27.

November 29, 2005

The hostages are identified as Harmeet Singh Sooden, a 32-year-old Canadian, 41-year-old James Loney of Toronto, Norman Kember, 74, from London, England and Tom Fox, 54, from the United States.

The four are members of Christian Peacemaker Teams, a small, international group which aims to reduce worldwide violence.

The organization has denied claims by the kidnappers, a group calling itself the Swords of Righteousness Brigade, that the four were spies working in Iraq. "All of us are praying that they will be merciful and these people will be released," said Doug Pritchard of the Christian Peacemaker Teams.

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin issues a statement saying that Foreign Affairs is in contact with the families of the hostages and is working on their behalf.

"I want you to know that there is no more urgent issue than ensuring the safety of our citizens," said Martin.

In a statement released Tuesday, Christian Peacemakers Teams said it was outraged that the four pacifists, including a pair of Canadians, are now suffering for a war they didn't create.

"We are angry because what has happened to our teammates is the result of the actions of the U.S. and U.K. governments due to the illegal attack on Iraq and the continuing occupation and oppression of its people," the Toronto- and Chicago-based organization wrote in the statement posted online.

December 1, 2005

In what Prime Minister Paul Martin called "a callous act of terror" a shadowy group holding two Canadian peace activists hostage threatened Friday to kill them and two other Christian aid workers if its demands for the release of detainees weren't met.

The unknown kidnappers set a deadline of Thursday December 8, for authorities to meet their demand for all prisoners in U.S. and Iraqi detention centres to be released, according to Al-Jazeera news channel, which quoted a statement delivered with videotape it aired.

December 2,2005
In an interview from Baghdad, a colleague of the two members of Christian Peacemaker Teams taken hostage on Saturday said there had been no contact from the kidnappers.

"It's still more hurry up and wait," Greg Rollins said.

"We've been getting friends to release statements in hopes they (the kidnappers) will step forward and say something or do something, but there's been nothing."

Palestinian activists have added their voices to those concerned about the four members from the Christian Peacemaker Teams - including two Canadians - kidnapped in Iraq on Sunday.
The Palestinians gathered in Ramallah's main square Thursday, where they called on the militants in Iraq to release the four men.
"Your brothers in Palestine ask the Iraqi fighters in Fallujah, who are defending their country from their enemies the Americans, to release our international brothers, who have helped us in our struggle for freedom here," said Basel Masour.

December 5
Family and friends of the four hostages held in Iraq publicly plead for the release of their loved ones.

"Harmeet … is a peace loving man," said Manjeet Kaur Sooden, whose son, Harmeet Sing Sooden, is among the four hostages. "He went to Iraq to do good. I pray those who are holding Harmeet will look into their hearts [and] see the good that is in my son."

Loney's family also spoke to his captors and pleaded for his release.

"Please release him," said his mother, Claudette Loney. "We miss him. We love him. And we want him home."

"We want him to be able to continue the work that is just so important to him with the Iraqi people," said Loney's sister, Kathleen Weir.

Tom Fox is said to have prepared his family in case he was taken hostage, something many aid workers going over to Iraq feel the need to do. The family is reluctant to speak out because they fear it will harm Fox and his co-workers.

"A number of Christian peacekeeper teams actually have prepared statements of conscience in case something should happen," Rose said. "Tom's team was developed with co-workers knowing the prevalence of threat. … They wanted to make sure that everyone knew they did not want military or a forceful group to rescue them."

The first recent American hostage to receive considerable media attention was Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, kidnapped in Pakistan and beheaded.

Later, Nicholas Berg, American businessman kidnapped in Iraq, befell the same fate.

Military and civilians from Bulgaria, South Korea and Italy have been captured and beheaded in Iraq. Beheading has become a preferred tactic of terror for insurgent groups and al Qaeda.

Even still, Christian Peacemaker Teams refused armed protection in Iraq.

"We don't use guns, we are non-violent," Rose said. "What kind of integrity would a non-violent group have if they were guarded by men with guns? To be honest, members of our group often act as non-violent guards and in Palestine. Tom was escorting Palestinian farmers to work through border points."

December 6

A new videotape posted on the internet shows four Western hostages in Iraq, including two Canadians, as they make assurances that they are being treated well.

The tape shows the Canadians unshackled while the other two hostages – an American and a Briton – are handcuffed.

"We are being treated well. We are both well. All of us are well," Torontonian Jim Loney says on the tape.

"We're being treated well. We are sleeping OK. We'd like to thank the people holding us for that," adds Harmeet Sooden, formerly of Montreal.

It was not clear whether the men were speaking of their own volition. Neither is it clear when the tape was made, although the images are dated Dec. 2

December 7

The Iraqi group holding hostage four Christian peace activists, including two Canadians, extended their deadline for execution until Saturday, al-Jazeera repots.

Meanwhile, the family of one of the kidnapped Canadian men in Iraq continued to hold out hope for his release Wednesday as a deadline looms to execute him and three other hostages.

Speaking from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Loney's family thanked all those working to free him, and expressed hope of seeing that happen soon.

"We want James home," said his brother Matthew Loney. "We want the other members home. And we want a peaceful resolution to how things are going over there," he said.

Matthew Loney also referred to a video that was released of the hostages saying, "We are grateful that Jim appeared well cared for in the last tape and we pray that will continue."

Loney's brother Ed appeared to fight back tears as he said, "At this time we would like to express our compassion and support for all families facing similar circumstances."

Editorial, by me.

Experts speculate the extention of the deadline and the unshackling of the Canadians are part of the mind games the Iraqi captors are playing. The assumption is that the message the captors wish to convey is "if you don't wish to paticipate with countries that we feel are trying to supress us (ie America and Britain) than you will be treated fairly, if you do then you will meet the same fate as they will." Hense the shackled and blindfolded American and British Aid Worker.

Neither the Canadian government nor military has never taken a proactive stance in this latest US and British led campaign to rid Iraq of the perceived terrorist threat, they have though been open supporters of their effors. Hopefully, after the election in January, the next Canadian government will wake up and provide better defense our peace keepers and aid workers.

December 9
Family and supporters around the world spent Friday in growing trepidation as a grim deadline set by kidnappers holding four Christian peace activists in Iraq loomed.

The still mysterious group of kidnappers threatened to kill the two Canadians and their fellow hostages unless the Americans released thousands of prisoners in Iraq by Saturday - International Human Rights Day.

"I really can't imagine anything worse than the scenario that myself and my family are going through right now," Ed Loney, brother of Canadian hostage Jim Loney told the Canadian Press.

Sunni clerics in Iraq issued a plea on Friday for the freedom of four Western hostages, including two Canadians.

At the Abu Hanifa Mosque in a Baghdad, Sunni cleric Imam Ahmed Taha devoted part of Friday prayers to the hostages. Speaking in Arabic he said, "We ask those who have the authority and the power to do their best to release the people who work for a Christian peace organization," he said. "They were the first who condemned the war on Iraq."

December 10

Loney's family waited in his parents' home in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., his brothers Ed and Matthew spoke about the ordeal with CBC News.

"The whole thing is just one really gut-wrenching experience after another," Ed Loney said.

"You don't know what's going to happen and you can't get caught up in those little deadlines or those little apparently meaningful things. It's all meaningful at this point."

He said his parents, who are in their 70s, have suffered most.

"They don't need the added stress and the pressure to complicate their lives. We're a bit younger, we can deal with that a bit better – but to imagine it going on for weeks and months would be terrible."

Loney's brothers said that, in scouring the media for news, they've discovered his fight against rights violations in Iraq and Palestine touched more lives than they ever imagined.

"We know what he was like within our family," said Matthew Loney. "But we didn't know as much, nearly as much, as we could have known about his work."

He said the irony was that the peace activists' goals weren't that different from those of their captors, who are demanding that U.S. and British military authorities free all prisoners being held in Iraq.

"Anything that happens to them negatively will impact the work that can be done for human rights in Iraq and around the world, and in the Middle East."

December 12

The tense waiting continued Monday with still no word of any kind on the fate of four Western hostages, including two Canadians, being held in Iraq.

December 13

The Swords of Righteousness Brigades, the group holding four western peace activists hostage in Iraq has ties to the Islamic Army, which has in the past killed several hostages, according to a Canadian newspaper. The National Post reported Tuesday that the previously unknown hostage-takers had uploaded at least two videotaped statements onto a hidden directory of an Islamic Army website that is only accessible to those in contact with the site's administrator.

"I would say that there is a strong connection between the hostage-takers and the Islamic Army," said Rita Katz, director of the SITE Institute, a US organization that monitors Jihadist activities and made the link. Katz said she had alerted US officials.

The Islamic Army killed Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni in 2004, and a statement from the group last week claimed American contractor Ronald Allen Schulz has been executed, but Washington officials could not confirm his death.

The group was also behind the kidnapping of French journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, who were freed at the end of 2004 after being held captive for four months.

December 15

A colleague of four Western hostages in Iraq told CBC News on Thursday that concerted efforts are continuing to try to reach the captors and get the four men set free.

"We're thinking that no news is good news, that maybe they're trying to figure out what their next move should be," Greg Rollins of Surrey, B.C., told CBC News on Thursday

December 24

Families of Iraq hostages advertise for help

CTV.ca

The faces of four captive Christian Peacemakers Team (CPT) members appeared on the front pages of Baghdad newspapers Saturday, along with new appeals for their safe release.

Family members have placed the ads and they are planning another appeal on Iraqi radio for Dec. 26.

The messages say that Canadians James Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden, Briton Norman Kember and American Tom Fox are men of peace who want to help Iraq.

The ads also say: "Many clerics and religious figures from the Arab and Muslim world have spoken of the good work the men were doing."

A phone number is offered for anonymous callers to give "any information that can help."

Many people in Baghdad want to see the captives released.

"At the end of the day, we are trying to live in peace," one Iraqi told CTV News. "This is our chance to prove to the world we are a peaceful people."

Back in Canada, vigils continue to be held by friends and supporters.

In Toronto on Saturday, people gathered to sing, pray and hope for the hostages' safe return.

Meanwhile, worried family members say they will try to celebrate Christmas.

"There's only one thing that would satisfy our entire family and that's to have this thing over with," Matthew Loney, the brother of captive Jim Loney told CTV News on Friday.

The Loney family says a place will be set at the Christmas dinner table for James.

His brother Ed says the family will try to have a normal holiday celebration in their Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. home.

"Just do our typical thing, you know," Loney said. "Have dinner and share the day with my sister's family … and keep it really simple, but still keep Jim in mind."

Sooden's brother-in-law Mark Brewer says his family continues to regard the lack of news about the hostages as a positive sign.

January 29. 2006

One of four kidnapped Christian peace activist Canadian, James Loney, of Toronto is seen in this image aired by Al Jazeera TV on Saturday. (AP)

Vigils struck for hostages in Iraq
Canadian Press and Associated Press

Baghdad — As they anxiously wait and hope for good news from Iraq, relatives of a Canadian hostage say they are thankful for the overwhelming support they've received over the last two months.

Matt Loney, brother of Canadian hostage James Loney, said he has been touched by events like Sunday's marches in Toronto and Vancouver, and the continued outpouring of support for his family.

The demonstrations were organized by the Christian Peacemaker Teams. Four of the group's members, including James Loney, were kidnapped Nov. 26 in Baghdad.

"As shocking as the original news of the kidnapping was, we've been even more overwhelmed as a family by the support we've been getting; and that's been locally and internationally," Mr. Loney said.

Sunday's events were planned weeks ago and followed by a day the release of a 55-second video showing Canadian hostages Mr. Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden, along with an American and a British co-worker.

The tape, time stamped Jan. 21, was shown Saturday on the Arab all-news network al-Jazeera, seven weeks after the captors — the previously unknown Swords of Righteousness Brigades — made their last set of demands and the passing of a deadline that was met with silence.

The video — which is grey and apparently shot using the camera's night-vision function — shows the four men standing near a wall, then cuts to another shot in which the men are seated and talking but their voices are not heard.

At one point, Mr. Loney is seen close-up wearing a tuque and speaking into the camera, and he looked relatively fine, said the CPT's William Payne, a friend of Mr. Loney's.

"My immediate reaction was he looked well considering the circumstances and I was really happy," Mr. Payne said Saturday. "He seemed himself from his facial expressions."

The Loney family awoke to the news of the videotape Saturday morning and said they were encouraged to see James is still alive.

His brother Matt in Vancouver first heard about the video early Saturday and said that while it was good to see his brother, it still wasn't the best of news.

"It's a good and bad scenario. We know that he's alive and the others are alive as well, and we take great solace in that fact," he said.

"But the fact remains that this is still a delicate situation."

Mr. Loney's mother was happy to see her son again, even under the difficult circumstances, said the CPT's Rebecca Johnson.

"Mrs. Loney was also relieved to see her son is alive and happy to see that, that was one of the first things she said," according to Ms. Johnson.

"(The family) is hoping for the best and for his release, of course."

The Swords of Righteousness Brigades called the brief tape a "last chance" for the hostages. They demanded the release of all Iraqi prisoners "otherwise their fate will be death."

No deadline was set.

Government spokesman Dan McTeague said Saturday that freeing the hostages — Mr. Loney, 41, of Toronto; Mr. Sooden, 32, a former Montreal resident; Tom Fox, 54, of Clear Brook, Va., and Norman Kember, 74, of London — remains a priority.

"All the resources of the government of Canada have been co-ordinated to communicate and listen to and receive any info that would help us see the safe release of these hostages," Mr. McTeague said.

Christian Peacemaker Teams has been working in Iraq since October 2002, investigating allegations of abuse against Iraqi detainees by American and Iraqi forces. Its teams host human rights conferences in conflict zones, promoting peaceful solutions.

Humanitarian workers had been warned repeatedly by Iraqi and western security officials that they were taking a grave risk if they moved around Baghdad without bodyguards.

More than 250 foreigners have been taken hostage in Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, and at least 39 have been killed.

Al-Jazeera editor Saad al-Dosari declined to say how the station obtained the tape but that all of the footage was aired.

Mon, 20 Feb 2006
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay 'very optimistic' about release of Canadian hostages in Iraq

Canada's new foreign affairs minister says he believes the two Canadians, and two other Westerners taken hostage in Iraq, are still "very much" alive.

"The most up-to-date information that we have leads us to believe that there will be -- and we remain very optimistic -- a safe release of these individuals," Peter MacKay said in an interview with Canadian Press.

On Monday, MacKay told CP the government is "pursuing all means, with our allies, to be helpful and supportive to ensure their safe return and release."

"The most recent information leads us to believe they have, on a number of occasions, been moved from one location to another."

"We remain very optimistic about their well-being," MacKay said.

Rune Reading For The Week Of February 20, 2006-February 26, 2006

Introduction to Rune Readings

Rune readings are arrangements of the 24 runes (letters) of the old Futhark alphabet. The layout of the runes is known as a spread, and determines what each rune refers to. For example, in the Three Norns spread, the first rune represents the past, the second the present, and the third the future.

Sets: In addition to each rune having a meaning, the material in which the runes are carved can color the reading. Most people consistently use runes made of ceramic, stone, or wood. In order to broaden your experience, we offer readings with Gold Runes (for questions about business, career, and property), Jade Runes (for questions about love, friendship, and relationships), Ice Runes (for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement), Spirit Runes (for questions about mysticism, spirituality, and religion), and Stone Runes (for questions about the natural world and things beyond human control).

The question will remain the same: "Will this week be a successful one?"

Rune Alphabet



Spread:Cross(in order of reading)
The Cross spread is used to plot the arc of your life and the forces acting on it. It is the most popular spread, giving a very complete view of the situation. Ice Runes are most commonly used for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement.




Here is the Reading Using the Ice Set.

1.


The left rune represents an important element of the past. Thurisaz the thorn represents barriers and senseless violence. Here we see the thorn overturned. This could mean that erected barriers will not hold, or that senseless violence can be avoided. Also, remember where thorns are found - perhaps this rune portends that a goal can be obtained easily and without interference. Grasp for the rose...

2.


The middle rune represents a deciding element of the present. Raido means to ride. In this rune, the image is not so much the riding of a horse as in riding in a cart or as cargo. As such Raido may suggest a journey, but is much more indicative of communication. Alternate interpretations based on the use of Raido as a cognate in other words give it the meaning of council, judgment, and moral correctness. Therefore, this rune is the rune of wise advice and good leadership.

3.


The right rune represents the critical element of the future, at the core of the final outcome. Wunjo is the rune of Joy. Since joy is least frequently a solitary emotion, this rune often represents mutual or communal bliss. Wunjo is also seen as a rune of the gods and a rune of perfection, carrying with it the elation that blazes from the creation of a perfect work - perhaps this is the true joy of the gods, that they can create perfection. That aside, this rune does not focus on the struggle for perfection or on our inevitable imperfections, but rather on a job well done and the satisfaction that comes from it.

4.


The top rune represents a force that works for you. Othila is the homeland. Unlike Fehu, this is the rune of immovable wealth. On a deeper level, this rune speaks to that which you inherit, be it material or genetic. Since Othila is seen reversed here, the obstacles you confront are among those things in your background that you take for granted and consider fairly stable. Problems from the "homeland", from familial inheritance, or from our own origins may be worked around, but they cannot be made to go away. Fortunately, for many problems, this is all that is required.

5.


The bottom Rune represents a force that works against you. Gebo means gift, and like any gifts, the rune may be understood on many levels. Gifts are generally positive things, for both the giver and the recipient. In many cultures however, gifts and favors carry with them an obligation to respond in kind. It is for this reason that gifts, and hence the rune Gebo, are frequently symbolic of friendships, marriages, alliances, mergers, and other bonds between people or organizations. Gebo is a strong rune and the unions represented are strong as well. Moreover, Gebo is not reversible, as true friendships are not easily undone.

If you are further interested in Rune stones, please check out a script I wrote about three years ago. The story tells of a women's chance encounter with the towns rune reader and physcic. Her reading leads to a terrible discovery about her ex-husband.Click here to read 'Evil Of A Different Kind'

Later,
Kenaz

Canadian Women Shine Gold!

Day 10

The Canadian women's hockey team has captured its second consecutive Olympic gold medal. The team beat Sweden 4-1 in the final Monday, scoring two goals in the first period and two in the second. Jayna Hefford notched a goal and an assist for the Canadians, while Hayley Wickenheiser and Jennifer Botterill contributed two assists each.

"This is beautiful, and it was just a great team effort to bring home another gold medal for our country," captain Cassie Campbell told the CBC after the team received their medals.

"I know there are so many people back home who are proud of us. I'm so proud of every single player on our team."

"This is a special moment for me. This is going to be my last Olympics," 40-year-old veteran Danielle Goyette said. "If I had a choice I would have stayed [on the ice celebrating] all night. They had to push me off.

"I want to enjoy every moment of it. I'm going to go back to the dressing room and enjoy everything with my teammates because we worked hard and we achieved our goal this year."

The Canadians dominated from start to finish, keeping Sweden off the scoreboard until five minutes into the third period, when Gunilla Andersson scored from the point during a power play. Hefford gave Canada a 4-0 second-period lead, scoring while standing on Swedish goalie Kim Martin's doorstep. Seconds earlier, Cherie Piper re-directed the puck past Martin after getting a feed from Wickenheiser, who had circled behind the Swedish net. Caroline Ouellette and Gillian Apps scored one goal each in the first frame. Apps opened the scoring just over three minutes into the game, after powering in alone in front of the Swedish net.

"We wanted to take this whole tournament one game at a time," Apps told the CBC after the first period. "We knew, going into this game, that we couldn't take Sweden lightly."

Canada out-shot Sweden 26-8. Martin, 19, headed into this game brimming with confidence after a sensational performance in Friday's semifinal round. She made 37 saves in a 3-2 shootout win over the heavily favoured United States. Canada beat Sweden 8-1 in a preliminary-round contest earlier in Turin, Italy.

Police raid finds doping materials

Italian law enforcement authorities who raided the Olympic residences of Austria's biathlon and cross-country teams early Sunday, confirmed later in the day they had found equipment involved in illegal doping activities. Among the discoveries was blood analysis equipment, as well as syringes, vials of distilled water, asthma medication and other substances, according to ANSA, the Italian news agency. The announcement was just one in a day filled with emerging information about the case.

Also on Sunday, Walter Mayer, the banned coach whose presence at the Olympics set off the first-ever raid of athletes, was taken into custody after allegedly crashing into a police road block following a chase through the mountain roads near the Austria-Italy border. Mayer was apparently on his way home, having slipped away from the raid of the Austrian team.

Meanwhile, BBC News reported the head of biathlon's international federation was claiming documents confirming a positive pre-Games drug test were missing.

"I have simply been told that documents were stolen," Anders Besseberg told the BBC.

It was not said whose test it was, or for what country the athlete competed. Canadian Dick Pound, head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said he was not aware of such a theft.

The Austrian ski federation confirmed two of the 10 competitors tested by the IOC following the police raid had been kicked off the team for going home without permission. The federation also announced it had ended its relationship with Mayer, effective immediately, giving the accident as the reason. It was not clear why the federation was involved with Mayer, after he had been suspended by skiing's international governing body until 2015. The Olympic Organizing Committee banned him from Torino and the 2010 Vancouver Games, for doping violations at Salt Lake City in 2002.

Wolfgang Schuessel, the Austrian chancellor, weighed in on Sunday in an interview with ORF, the Austrian state broadcaster. He said he found it "completely infuriating that someone like Walter Mayer shows up [in Turin].

"Dozens of Austrian athletes have been preparing for their whole lives to reach this summit, and then something like this happens," he said.

On Saturday, as Italian authorities searched the local residences of the Austrian nordic team, the IOC conducted unannounced, out-of-competition tests on 10 Austrian athletes – six cross-country skiers and four biathletes.

"We never asked the Italian police to take action," IOC medical commission chief Arne Ljungqvist said. "We informed them that we would conduct testing on the evening of the 18th and they decided to take action at the same time."

Austrian skier Juergen Pinter said "We were surprised in our room. Suddenly, the police came in and didn't let us leave on the night before the competition.

"This happened without any positive result from doping control in the team. It's crazy."

"They checked every drink, every food, and they took a lot of stuff with them," Austrian spokesman Eric Wagner claimed. "They came around 9 and stayed until 12 and then took the athletes away to be tested."

Italian authorities said they had seized blood analysis equipment, as well as syringes, vials of distilled water, asthma medication and other substances, according to ANSA, the Italian news agency. ANSA also reported that one athlete had thrown a bag out of a window of the residence during the raid that contained needles and medicine.

Austria finished dead last in Sunday's 4x10-kilometre relay.

"They absolutely ruined the race," Austrian skier Martin Tauber said. "I was already a little bit tired yesterday."


Italian police were acting on a report by WADA. Pound told the Associated Press on Saturday that doping control officers went to Austria to test athletes and, while they did not find who they were looking for, they did find blood doping equipment linked to Mayer.

"They [the Austrians] have been playing with fire in having an association with this guy," Pound said.

WADA officials later learned that Mayer was in Italy with the Austrian team.

"The fact he was in the same area as the athletes created quite some concern to us," Ljungqvist said.


Despite being banned by the IOC and skiing's international body, Mayer is still the head coach of the country's cross-country and the biathlon team. Wagner confirmed Mayer had been at the Torino Games, in a private capacity, and in touch with the team as of Saturday.

"Why not? He's allowed to talk to anyone," Wagner said. "If he is with the team the whole year, why not now?"

Mayer coached the cross-country team to its first-ever medals in nordic skiing at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, and a gold in the relay at the 1999 worlds and two more medals at the Salt Lake Games in 2002. But after blood-transfusion equipment was found in a chalet at 2002 Olympics, Mayer was banned for life by the International Ski Federation (FIS). That was eventually lowered to 10 years, in 2005. German chiropractor Volker Mueller, who prescribed the blood treatments, was also banned through 2010.

Later, Mayer had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital, says the president of Austria's skiing federation.

"Apparently [Walter Mayer] is still in there," Peter Schroecksnadel told the Associated Press.

"I believe that there was a danger of suicide – they had to take him to the hospital."

Mayer was taken into custody by Italian police Sunday after he allegedly took them on a chase through the mountains that ended with a crash into a police barrier near the Austrian border. Police earlier in the evening had approached a car in which a man was sleeping. The occupant, identified as Mayer by authorities, drove off, hitting and slightly injuring an officer, and authorities gave chase. Mayer refused to take a sobriety test requested by the officers. Authorities said he'd likely would be charged with resisting arrest. His license was provisionally suspended.

Gushue into curling playoffs

Gushue made three clutch shots in critical situations to beat Pete Fenson of the United States 6-3 in the 12th and final draw.


"It is nice knowing we are in the playoffs now," Gushue said. "If we have two good games now, from here on in, we achieve our goal."

With the win, Canada completed the preliminary round at 6-3, eliminated defending Olympic champion Paal Trulsen of Norway and set up a rematch with the U.S. (6-3) in Wednesday's medal round (1 p.m. EST).

"They are going to want to beat us as much as we want to beat them," said American vice Shawn Rojeski. "If we go out and play a good game together, we can win."

Finland (7-2) finished first overall and faces Great Britain (6-3) in the other semifinal. Fenson stole one in the first end when Gushue came up soft on a hit and stick, but the Canadian skip responded with a draw to count two in the fourth. Gushue regained the hammer in the fourth with a splendid double-takeout that left Canada lying two, forcing Fenson to draw to the button for a single point. Gushue blanked the sixth to retain last-rock advantage, then conceded a steal of one in the seventh when it picked on debris. Trailing 3-2 in the eighth, Gushue bumped up to remove two American stones, then parlayed a precision takeout into two points for a 4-3 lead. Fenson made a fatal mistake in the ninth, leaving two rocks vulnerable in the four foot and Gushue capitalized with a hit and roll to the button directly behind a Canadian guard. That forced Fenson to concede one and put Canada ahead 5-3 heading home. Gushue hit and stuck for one to complete the scoring in the 10th.

Canada's Shannon Kleibrink used a patchwork rink to reach the playoffs in women's curling at the Torino Olympic Winter Games. Kleibrink, who curls out of Calgary, needed a clutch shot on last rock in the 10th end to get past Dorthe Holm of Denmark 9-8 and clinch the final berth in the medal round at Pinerolo, located 50 kilometres from Turin.

Canada completed the round-robin in fourth place at 6-3, so faces Switzerland in Wednesday's semifinals. Sweden meets Norway in the other semi.

Amy Nixon's nagging stomach virus forced Canada to juggle its lineup on Monday, moving Glenys Bakker from second to third and inserting alternate Sandra Jenkins as second. Denmark grabbed a 2-0 lead in the opening end, but Kleibrink capitalized on a couple of key misses by Holm to earn three on a free draw in the second. Holm responded in kind in the third but Kleibrink answered right back, drawing to the back of the four-foot for three to lead 6-5 through four. Kleibrink split the rings in the sixth and stole one when Holm's final delivery hit but rolled out. Holm made amends in the seventh, nudging a Canadian rock off the button with a nifty double-raise to score one and trail 7-6. Canada's sweepers then brushed Kleibrink's soft draw far enough to earn a single point in the eighth, but Holm replied with a deuce on an open draw to tie it 8-8 through nine.

An interesting statistic has emerged from the Torino games, Canada has an incredible seven fourth place finishes, missing the podeum by a combined 2.16 seconds. That's an average of about .35 seconds, or the length of time it takes to blink once! Here's how the figures break down.

Francois Bourque, fourth in the Men's Giant Slalom 0.72 seconds out of the bronze.
Kelly Vanderbeek fourth in Women's Super-G out of the bronze by 0.03 seconds.
Erik Guay fourth Men's Super-G Guay's just 1-10th of a second behind bronze.
Marc Andre Moreau fourth Men’s Moguls .68 seconds out of bronze
Paul Boehm fourth Skeleton Men’s .26 seconds out of bronze
Maelle Ricker fourth Snowboard Women’s Cross 1 point
Charles Hamelin fourth Men's 1,500m Short track speedskating .370 seconds out of bronze

Later,
Kenaz

Canada Adds Two More Silver

Day 9

Medal Standings--Gold---Silver---Bronze---Total
Germany---------------7-------7----------4------------18
Norway----------------2-------7----------7------------16
United States---------7-------4----------2------------13
Russia----------------6-------2----------5------------13
Canada----------------2-------6----------5------------13

Canada's Klassen wins silver in 1,000 m

Canadian speedskating star Cindy Klassen bagged her third medal of the Torino Games in the women's 1,000 metres, finishing second behind Marianne Timmer of the Netherlands. Anni Friesinger of Germany was third. The 1,000 is not Klassen's best distance, but she was first at the halfway mark of the event. Only Timmer was able to beat her time of 1:16:09, and only then by 0.04 seconds. No other Canadian has ever won three medals at one Winter Games. Canada's previous best in the women's 1,000 was a bronze medal performance by Catriona Le May Doan in 1998.

Lueders, Brown claim bobsled silver

Canada's Pierre Lueders captured an Olympic silver medal Sunday in the two-man bobsleigh competition in Cesana Pariol, Italy. Under heavy snowfall, Lueders and brakeman Lascelles Brown powered their sled down the Italian track for a four-run time of three minutes, 43:59 seconds. Germany's Andre Lange and Kevin Kuske won the gold medal while the Swiss team of Martin Annen and Beat Hefti earned bronze.

Lueders, of Edmonton, won a gold medal with CBC bobsleigh analyst Dave McEachern at the 1998 Nagano Games, giving Canada its first Olympic bobsleigh title since 1964 when Vic Emery's four-man team upset the favoured European countries. Lueders also won the 2003-04 two-man world championship with brakeman Giulio Zardo and repeated the feat last season with Brown. During his illustrious bobsleigh career, Lueders has won a total of 69 World Cup medals, including several overall titles in the two-man event.

However, he would never take full credit for this Olympic medal without pointing out the immense contributions of Brown. The Calgary resident is regarded as one of the top-three brakeman in the world and consistently gives Lueders fast push starts. During the Christmas holidays, Lueders showed his dismay with Bobsleigh Canada's seeming lack of commitment in fast-tracking the Jamaican native's citizenship case with Immigration Canada. He told CBC Sports Online that it would take a "miracle" for Canada to win a medal without the power and speed of Brown. The pair had only one podium finish for the season to that point but the news would dramatically improve.

As the new year began, Lueders was given assurances that Brown's case would be cleared up. The news gave Lueders a lift as the two captured three medals in the last four races to win another two-man World Cup title at the time Brown received his citizenship.

Canadian curler Shannon Kleibrink rebounded from a shocking loss to Japan by thumping Italy 11-4 at the Torino Olympic Winter Games. Kleibrink, whose rink curls out of Calgary, improved to 5-3 with Sunday's nine-end triumph at Pinerolo, located 50 kilometres from Turin.

Sweden (7-1) guaranteed itself a playoff berth ahead of Switzerland (6-2), Canada and Norway (5-2). The top four teams advance to the medal round with first-ranked rink facing the fourth and the second taking on the third.

Italy dropped to a tournament-worst 1-7 as skip Diana Gaspari struggled mightily, posting an accuracy rate of 49 per cent. By comparison, Kleinbrink curled at a 75 per cent clip. Kleibrink led 5-0 through three ends, opening with a single point and scoring deuces in both the second and third. Kleinbrink drew inside for a steal of two to go ahead 7-2 in the fifth, but Gaspari got one back with a hit and stick on last rock in the sixth. Lying two in the seventh, Gaspari put Kleibrink on the defensive by closing the lone port to the button with a high guard. Kleibrink had no choice but to erase one Italian rock with a straight hit and concede the single point. Kleibrink drew to the button for two in the eighth, then closed out the contest with a steal of two in the ninth.

Gushue controls playoff destiny

Canada's Brad Gushue is breathing a bit easier in the men's curling competition at the Torino Olympic Winter Games. Gushue, who curls out of St. John's, needed just seven ends Sunday to beat Sean Becker of New Zealand 9-1 at Pinerolo, Italy.
Gushue improved to 5-3 overall through 11 draws and currently sits fourth behind Finland (7-2), Great Britain (6-3) and the United States (6-2), all three of whom have qualified for the playoffs.

Canada can advance with a win over the U.S. on Monday. Should Canada lose, they will be tied with Norway (5-4) and the winner of Monday's Switzerland-Italy contest.

"We've played them twice, once in Winnipeg," Gushue said of the Americans. "Close games. We're 1-1."

The top four teams advance to the medal round with first-ranked rink facing the fourth and the second taking on the third. If necessary, a tie-breaker to determine the final playoff spot would be held on Tuesday.

"Now we're assured of a tiebreaker at least," Gushue said. "We got some things figured out."

Gushue scored single points in first, second and fourth ends before blowing it open with back-to-back threes in the sixth and seventh. Becker, still winless at 0-8, counted one in the fifth.

Canada Fin-ished

Antero Niittymaki handed Canada its second consecutive shutout loss at the Torino Olympics, stopping 24 shots in a 2-0 Finland decision in men's hockey on Sunday.
The Philadelphia Flyers goaltender, who was particularly sharp in the second period, has stretched Canada's goalless streak to 120 minutes, 34 seconds, dating back to Shane Doan's third-period goal in Thursday's 5-1 win over Germany.

"The bottom line is we have to find a way to score a goal," Canadian forward Kris Draper told CBC Sports. "We got some momentum [in the final two periods] but we haven't made our own momentum.

"We're not where we want to be ... but there's not going to be any panic on this hockey team."

The Flyers rookie's best stop against Canada came in the second period with Finland clinging to a 2-0 lead. He closed his pads on Columbus Blue Jackets sniper Rick Nash, who broke in alone after taking a Joe Thornton pass just outside the Finnish blue-line. Niittymaki denied Martin St. Louis in the third when the diminuitive winger attempted to redirect a pass from Vincent Lecavalier at the side of the Finland net.

With the win, Finland clinched first place in Group A with a record of 4-0-0 and has secured its place in the eight-team semifinals. Canada, the defending Olympic champions, slipped to 2-2-0 and sits third in Group A behind Finland and Switzerland (2-1-1).

Niko Kapanen and Teemu Selanne scored first-period goals for Finland, which has allowed just two goals in four games in Turin, Italy. Sunday's win was a measure of revenge for the Finns, who dropped a 3-2 decision to Canada in the 2004 World Cup final after winning bronze at the 2002 Winter Games. Selanne's team-leading sixth goal at 11:14 of the opening period stood up as the winner. After Saku Koivu made a nifty move to get around Chris Pronger behind the Canadian net, he fed Selanne in the slot and watched the Anaheim Mighty Duck wire a shot past Roberto Luongo. Finland took the body and play to its opponent from the outset, winning the battle for loose pucks and outshooting Canada 14-5 in the first 20 minutes.

The Canadians will complete the preliminary round on Tuesday against the Czech Republic. Draper suggested his team get back to playing an NHL-style game by taking the puck to the net.

Later,
Kenaz

Meltdown For Canadian's in Torino

Day 8

Canada Swiss-taked

In a game that was supposed to be a warm-up for tougher opponents, Switzerland shocked the Canadian men's hockey team 2-0 at the Torino Olympics Saturday morning.

After stunning the Czech Republic Thursday with a 3-2 win, using speed and great goaltending, the Swiss displayed the same formula to upset Canada at Torino Esposizioni. Former Montreal Canadiens forward Paul di Pietro scored two goals and goalie Martin Gerber of the Carolina Hurricanes played superbly, making 49 saves for the shutout.

Team Canada outshot the Swiss 24-1 in the third period. The loss doesn't affect Canada's chances of winning a goal medal, but it may change its seeding for the quarter-finals and beyond.

Defenceman Chris Pronger said Canada didn't take its rivals lightly.

"I don't think so, it certainly didn't seem like that in the locker-room," Pronger told CBC Sports. "Along that road you're going to face some adversity and this is certainly an obstacle we need to learn from."

It's Switzerland's first-ever win against Canada in international competition. Looking sluggish from the start of the game, the Canadians couldn't generate consistent pressure on the fast-skating Swiss. Canada's power play struggled for the second straight contest, missing several opportunities.

Gerber, starting in place of No. 1 goalie David Aebischer, made several great saves, including two from in front of the net on Dany Heatley and Joe Thornton in the third period. Despite being outshot in the first period, Switzerland took a surprising 1-0 lead at 18:19.

Thornton gave the puck away in the neutral zone as the Swiss were allowed to control the puck in Canada's end. Patric Della Rossa was able to fight off two Canadian defenders behind the net and flipped a pass to an open di Pietro in the slot. The winger then beat Canadian goaltender Martin Brodeur with a quick shot to the stick side. Canada got into penalty trouble in the second period that resulted in a 2-0 deficit. With the Swiss controlling the puck off the draw, di Pierto scored at 8:47. Brodeur had anticipated the point-shot coming through but the puck was deflected to di Pierto who made no mistake on his one-timer.

It appeared Canada cut the lead to 2-1 on the power play after Rick Nash's shot looked to cross the goal-line while the puck was in Gerber's glove. After the play was reviewed for several minutes, the officials disallowed the goal. Gerber's glove save was still spectacular as he originally seemed out of position. The Canadians had several chances to take the lead in the first period but went 0-5 on the power play, including a 30-second two-man advantage.

"We had a lot of scoring chances but the goalie saw them," Pronger said. "A lot of times the goalie is going to make that first save."


DiPietro, born Sault Saint Marie, Ont., played 192 NHL games with Montreal, Toronto and Los Angeles. He scored 31 goals and 49 assists during his career that was highlighted by a Stanley Cup championship with the Canadiens in 1993. DiPietro has been playing for the Swiss league since 1998-99 and received his Swiss passport last February.

The Canadians finish their preliminary round against two difficult opponents. They face Finland Sunday and finish against the Czech Republic Tuesday.

Italy shows no love to Gushue

Canada's Brad Gushue suffered a major setback Saturday, losing 7-6 to Joel Retornaz of Italy in the men's curling competition at the Torino Olympic Winter Games. Retornaz deftly drew to the four-foot on last rock, bumping inside Canada's shot rock to clinch the upset win in an extra end.

Team Canada trailed throughout, but rallied with five points over the final five ends to extend the game. Canada now sits 4-3 in the overall standings, tied with the Italians. Great Britain tops the leadboard at 6-1 through seven draws followed by Finland and the United States, both at 5-2.

Retornaz jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening end and stole one in the third when Gushue overthrew a last-rock draw in the second. Gushue covered the pinhole with perfect draw weight to get on the board in the third and caught something of a break when the Italians overlooked an opportunity to count three in the fourth. Lying one on the button behind a trio of Canadian stones, Retornaz elected to draw for two rather than attempt a triple, only to rub a guard and settle for one.

Italy led 5-3 in the eighth when Retornaz cut the edge of the rings on a takeout to score one, but relinquish the hammer. Trailing 6-3, Gushue and second Russ Howard, a two-time world champion, spent several minutes strategizing as Italy lay three in tight and Canada one on the cusp in the ninth. Although third Mark Nichols removed only one Italian rock, Retornaz fired his first stone untouched through the house, giving Gushue the opening he needed for a double-takeout. Retornaz replied with a double of his own, leaving Gushue to hit and stick for two.

Behind 6-5 in the 10th, Gushue bumped his first rock to the back of the four-foot with his second, creating enough separation between the two to make a double-takeout difficult. The gamble paid off as Retornaz managed to remove only one, giving Gushue a steal of one and a 6-6 tie.

Japan stuns Kleibrink in curling

Ayumi Onodera of Japan pulled off the biggest upset thus far in the women's curling competition at the Torino Winter Games on Saturday.Onodera skipped her rink to a stunning 5-2 victory over Canada's Shannon Kleibrink at Pinerolo, Italy.

"Canada is a very strong team," Japan's third Yumie Hayashi told reporters. "Beating them now we have a lot more confidence."

Japan improved to 2-3 in the standings and Canada dropped to 4-3.

"I'm not happy, I'm very frustrated," said Amy Nixon, Canada's vice. "My impression is they played well and we didn't."


Sweden tops the leaderboard at 6-1 with Switzerland (5-2) in second place. Norway and Great Britain (4-2) are tied for third ahead of Canada. The top four rinks advance to the medal round. Canada takes on Italy on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. EST and plays its last contest of the round robin Monday against Denmark at 1:00 p.m. EST.

Prior to the Olympics, CBC curling analyst and 1998 Olympic gold medallist Joan McCusker warned not to dismiss the Japanese.

"They lack experience in pressure-filled strategy," McCusker stated. "But technically they are very, very good,"

"They have the potential to make a big move up the rankings."

Japan was first on the scoresheet with a deuce in the third end. Poor shooting by Canada allowed Onodera to steal a single in the fourth for a 3-0 lead. Kleibrink scored one in the sixth, but gave up the hammer in the process. Japan capitalized by scoring one in the seventh end to restore its three-point advantage. With last-rock advantage, Kleibrink scored one in the following end, but could not steal a single point in the final two ends as Japan scored one in the 10th to seal the win.

Later,
Kenaz

Canadian athletes add three more medals to the tally

Day 7

Medal Count
Country---------Gold--Silver--Bronze--Total
Norway---------- 1------6-------6-------13
Germany----------5------4-------2-------11
Russia---------- 5------2-------4-------11
Canada-----------2------4-------5-------11
United States----6------3-------1-------10

Canada cemented its position as the top skeleton country, capturing gold and silver in the men's competition Friday.

Duff Gibson had the fastest combined time of one minute, 55.88 seconds. Compatriot Jeff Pain (1:56.14) was just behind. Another Canadian, Paul Boehm (1:57.06), placed fourth. Swiss slider Gregor Staehli (1:56.80) won bronze, passing two British racers on his second run of the 19-curve course.

"I skipped the last two World Cups to go home and prepare physically and recuperate from some injuries I had, and to repair some of the technical problems I had with my sled," said Gibson.

"I'm just lucky and thrilled to be able to come here and put my race down. All aspects of the race were at my best."

Gibson described Pain as the "greatest champion" he knows. Pain also had high praise for Gibson.

"If I'm going to lose to anybody I just hope it would be Duff. He's a great competitor and I just love being around him."

Earlier in the week, Gibson predicted at least two Canadians would wind up on the podium. Gibson, 39, is Canada's oldest-ever gold-medal winner at a Winter Games.

Montreal's Dominique Maltais survived a wild final heat to win a bronze medal on Friday in the Olympic debut of women's snowboard cross. Canada's other finalist, however, wasn't so lucky. Tanja Frieden of Switzerland won the gold medal, while Lindsey Jacobellis of the U.S. took silver.

In a stunning turn of events, Jacobellis appeared to be cruising to victory before going down after the penultimate jump. Frieden took advantage and zoomed past her to capture the gold. Jacobellis grabbed her board on the jump, a move halpipe riders employ to impress judges. After the race the 20-year-old, who also competes in the halfpipe, brushed off suggestions that she was showboating.

"I had been having trouble with that jump all day. (Grabbing the board) helps you stabilize in the air," Jacobellis said. "I tried but it didn't work."

U.S. coach Peter Foley, however, conceded that Jocobellis probably had gone over the top.

"She definitely styled that a little too hard," he said.

Earlier in the race Maltais wiped out spectacularly into the netting lining the course, nearly taking out a spectator. But she was able to recover and cross the finish line in third, well behind Jacobellis. Maelle Ricker of Whistler, B.C., was the first rider to go down in the final. She botched a jump, landing hard on her back, and was unable to get up. Ricker received attention on the course and was taken to hospital in Turin by helicopter. A team official said Ricker suffered a slight concussion but expected to be released from hospital later on Friday and was able to call Maltais to offer congratulations on her bronze medal.

Snowboard cross is a new Olympic discipline. Formerly known as boardercross, snowboard cross is a big twist on its cousin, the parallel giant slalom.

Shannon Kleibrink got the better of defending champion Rhona Martin of Great Britain in women's curling at the Torino Olympic Winter Games. Kleibrink, whose rink curls out of Calgary, built up a 3-0 lead by the third end en route to a 9-3 win in the seventh draw. Canada improved to 4-2 overall, tied with Norway and Switzerland behind front-running Sweden (5-1). Great Britain fell to 3-2.

Kleibrink scored two in the second and one in the third, then stole one in the fourth on Martin's failed double-takeout for a 4-0 lead. Martin was lying two deep in the fifth with a chance to draw for three on last rock, but settled for halving the deficit when it ran heavy. It remained 4-2 until Kleibrink scored one on a takeout in the seventh. Martin answered back with one in the eighth but, forced to relinquish the hammer, conceded when Kleibrink counted four in the ninth.

The top four rinks advance to the medal round.

Canada's Brad Gushue lost 8-7 to Markku Uusipaavalniemi of Finland in men's curling at the Torino Olympic Winter Games.
Trailing 8-6 and lying two in the 10th end, Gushue looked poised to pull even, but his final rock stopped inches short of the upper edge of the outer ring. That permitted Uusipaavalniemi to simply remove a Canadian stone and concede the point, but clinch his second win of the day.

In Friday's morning draw, he parlayed a pair of early takeouts into an 11-4 victory over Sweden. Both Canada and Finland now sit 4-2 overall, tied for second with the United States behind front-running Great Britain (5-1).

Canada's play had been crisp since addressing its shaky start during a team meeting Tuesday night. Tension between Russ Howard, the crusty two-time world champion recruited to throw second and call shots, and the three young Canadian upstarts was evident in the earlygoing at Pinerolo. But they aired out things out and had curled well since.

"Russ comes from the old school of curling," Gushue said. "The rest of us are New Age.

"We work with sports psychologists and stuff like that. We're working on him."

Gushue jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the opening end, but Uusipaavalniemi responded with an impressive triple-takeout for a 3-2 lead through three. Gushue tied it in the fifth and, lying shot rock on the button, stole one in the sixth when Uusipaavalniemi completely missed on an inside roll. Uusipaavalniemi quickly made amends in the seventh, forcing Gushue to freeze before scoring four on an authoritative takeout. 7-4. Uusipaavalniemi upped it 8-4 in the eighth, but Gushue right answered back with two in the ninth to cut the deficit to 8-6.

The Swedish women's hockey team shocked the United States in women's hockey Friday with a 3-2 shootout win to advance to the Olympic final. Pernilla Winberg scored the winning goal in the shootout to lead Sweden to the gold-medal game on Monday.


Led by the brilliance of goaltender Kim Martin, Sweden overcame a 2-0 deficit and will now have a chance to win a gold medal in international competition for the first time in its brief hockey history. It's also the first time the U.S. failed to make a final of an international competition.

After Martin stoned four American women in the shootout, Winberg beat goalie Chanda Gunn to the stick side to give Sweden a 1-0 edge. Following Krissy Wendell's miss on the fourth shot, Maria Rooth, who scored two goals in regulation time, secured Sweden's win with the insurance goal.

"I don't think anyone will ever understand [this win]," a tearful Erika Holst told CBC Sports. "We worked so hard for so long and finally we're here."

It looked as though the U.S. women caught a break after Martin stopped Wendell on the fourth shot. Referee Joy Tottman ruled that Martin moved before Wendell started her move toward the net and was awarded another shot. The call was moot, as Martin turned away Wendell on her second attempt.

In a thrilling contest that had many turning points, Martin made 37 saves including several on American power plays that kept Sweden within striking distance.

"We really believed it, that's why we worked so hard," said Martin. "It was great playing them and everything worked for us.

Swedish coach Peter Elander's decision to save Martin for this game certainly paid off. She is one of the best goalies in women's hockey. Elander didn't use Martin against Canada in Sweden's final preliminary game to give his 19-year-old netminder more rest.

The game dramatically turned in Sweden's favour as the U.S. women were enjoying a 2-0 lead in the second period. After overpowering American defenceman Courtney Kennedy, Swedish Emilie Konor fed a nifty pass to Rooth in the slot. With a defender draped over her, Rooth was able to spin around and beat Gunn to the far side of the net at 6:17 to cut the lead in half. Martin's continued brilliance help set up Sweden's tying goal. She stopped several point-blank shots on the American's next power play that eventually sent Sweden the other way.

Winning the battle along the boards in the U.S. end, Holst quickly passed the puck to Rooth in front of the U.S. net and then buried a shot over Gunn's shoulder at 9:40 for the short-handed goal.

"We knew that if we got one goal on them that they were going to get a little shaky," said Holst. "We didn't care what people wrote at home in the newspapers or on TV because the team believed."

The games outcome was more surprising considering Sweden's problems in the penalty box. The Swedes committed six consecutive penalties in the second period and were forced to kill two 5-on-3 man advantages by the Americans. The U.S. women got goals from Kristin King and Kelly Stephens.

Canada and Sweden headed for the finals

* Gillian's grandfather, Syl Apps, won three Stanley Cups in the 1940s as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and is enshrined in the NHL Hall of Fame. He also competed in the pole vault at the 1936 Olympics. Gillian's father, Syl Jr., played for three NHL teams, from 1970 to 1980.

Gillian Apps scored her sixth goal of the women's hockey tournament to help her team to a 6-0 semifinal victory over Finland on Friday at the Palasport Olimpico. Canada, which improved its record to 4-0, has advanced to Monday's gold-medal game against Sweden, which shocked the United States with a 3-2 shootout win in the other semifinal.

In Tuesday's 8-1 thrashing of Sweden, Apps scored three times against Cecilia Andersson, but she won't be afforded that luxury on Monday. Barring injury, Elander will start No. 1 goaltender Kim Martin, who was sensational in a 37-save performance against the U.S.

Canada held period leads of 2-0 and 4-0 against Finland, thanks to power-play goals by Katie Weatherston, Hayley Wickenheiser, Caroline Ouellette and Apps. Cherie Piper scored a pair of third-period goals in support of goalie Charline Labonte, who made 17 saves for her second shutout of the tourney. Apps, who shares the tournament scoring lead with Piper, added three assists. Wickenheiser set up two goals to give her five goals and 15 points in four games at these Olympics. Weatherston notched the eventual game-winner when she buried a shot over Finnish goalie Maija Hassinen at 17:33 of the opening period.

Canada has outscored the opposition 42-1 in Turin and has yet to allow an even-strength goal in international competition since the 2004 world championships.

Later,
Kenaz

Canadian Athletes Strike For 2 Silver, and 2 Bronze on Day 6

Day 6

Canada wins 2 speed skating silvers

Canadian speed skaters struck for two silver medals in the team pursuit Thursday at the Torino Olympic Winter Games.

Canada's men's pursuit squad, featuring Calgary's Arne Dankers of Calgary, Steven Elm of Red Deer, Alta., and Regina's Justin Warsylewicz, lost the gold-medal final of the new Olympic event to host Italy.

"Just to be here was something special for our team," Dankers said.


Canada set the world record of 3:39.69 last November yet the Italians won handily, taking the eight-lap race in three minutes and 44.46 seconds. Canada's skaters clocked 3:47.28 but, according to Dankers, "we exceeded all our expectations."

The trio of Kristina Groves of Ottawa, Winnipeg's Clara Hughes and Christine Nesbitt of London, Ont., also settled for silver in the women's final against favoured Germany.


The world champion Germans completed six laps in 3:01.25 to finish more than a full second faster than Canada (3:02.91).

"We did the best that we could," Hughes said. "That's the best race we've ever done together.

"Our goal was to get to the gold-medal final. And then, fight it out."

Groves and Hughes combined with Winnipeg's Cindy Klassen to outfox Japan by 3.82 seconds in the semifinals, but Klassen wound up replaced by Nesbitt in the final.

"Anybody could have skated the final," Klassen noted. "I have a lot of racing at these Games, so that's why I didn't race the last one."

Buttle wins figure skating bronze

Canadian Jeff Buttle won the bronze medal in men's figure skating with a solid free skate Thursday.

Russian Evgeny Plushenko won the gold medal while Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland won the silver. Buttle had his best free skate of the season. He nailed his first two jumps and executed a good three-jump combination, including a triple Lutz. He also nailed his final jump, a triple Lutz. But the skater downgraded a triple loop to a double, leaving some points on the table. Most significantly, he fell on his quadruple jump, one he has struggled with all season. Buttle skated third from last and waited with baited breath as the final two skaters performed.

"Oh, my God, it's nuts," Buttle said as soon as he realized he'd made the podium. "It hasn't sunk in. It's nuts. This is huge for me."

Plushenko was heavily favoured to win gold. He has dominated men's figure skating in recent years. Plushenko, the three-time world champion, took few chances but managed a personal best and won the fifth straight gold medal for Russian/Soviet men.

Canadian slider wins bronze

Canadian slider Mellisa Hollingsworth-Richards won the bronze medal in the women's skeleton Thursday.
Swiss slider Maya Pedersen won the gold medal and Briton Shelley Rudman claimed the silver. Hollingsworth-Richards finished with a combined time of two minutes and 1.41 seconds, 1.58 seconds slower than the winner.

She was in third place with two sliders remaining. She worried that German Diana Sartor, who finished ahead of her in the first run, would knock her off the medal podium. But Sartor had a weak run and allowed the Canadian to claim bronze.

"In two minutes it went from heartbreak to 'Oh my goodness, I'm going to have to wait for four more years' to 'Thank God,'" said Hollingsworth-Richards.

"That's the thing about sport. You're never, ever wanting anybody to make mistakes to give you an advantage. Maybe that's where luck comes in."


Pederson was a medal favourite heading into the Games. She finished fifth at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. She skipped the 2003-04 World Cup season because she was pregnant. But after giving birth to her daughter, she came back stronger than ever. Her gold medal was the first of this Games for Switzerland.

Canadian men too strong for Germany

Any thought of a German upset was quickly put to rest by Canada in men's hockey Thursday at Palasport Olimpico. Looking more relaxed than their game against the Italians on Wednesday, the Canadians beat Germany 5-1 to remain undefeated in the preliminary round.

It was expected that the pesky Germans, renowned for their tight-checking style, would keep the game close considering they nearly upset Canada four years ago at the Salt Lake City Olympics in Provo, Utah. However, Canada was able to solve Germany's 1-4 defence that gave the Czech Republic team so many problems Wednesday. With this strategy, the Germans employ one forechecker and four defenders across their own blue-line, making penetration by the opposing team difficult. Simon Gagne led Canada with one goal and an assist.

The game turned in Canada's favour early and in an unusual way. Canadian goaltender Roberto Luongo came out of his net to clear the puck, but forward Lasse Kopitz intercepted his attempt. With an apparent open net, a sliding Adam Foote, who covered for Luongo on the play, robbed the German. On the ensuing rush, defencemen Wade Redden converted a 2-on-1 with Gagne as he beat Germany's goalie Thomas Greiss at 4:52 of the first period to give Canada a 1-0 lead.

Predictably, the German's style of play caused them to take a number of penalties but Canada was only able to score one power-play goal on eight chances. That goal came when Joe Sakic banged home a rebound at 7:29 of the first after Griess stopped Rick Nash's initial shot. Sakic's goal gave Canada a 2-0 edge. Unlike their game against Italy, the Canadian's power play struggled as shots from the point missed the German net several times. Dany Heatley and Shane Doan scored Canada's other goals while Christian Ehrhoff had Germany's lone tally.

Canada's next game is Saturday against Switzerland.

Kleibrink splits two

Canadian curler Shannon Kleibrink beat Norway in the evening draw to earn a split in two matches at the Torino Olympics on Thursday.

Kleibrink stole three in the eighth end and added a pair in the ninth to tip the balance in what had been a seesaw affair. Norway got a pair back in the last end to make the final 10-8. Both Kleibrink and Dordi Nordby of Norway are 3-2 in the standings.

In action for the first time in two days, Kleibrink dropped a 6-5 decision to Switzerland's Mirjam Ott in the morning draw.
A silver medallist at the 2002 Olympics (as third for Luzia Ebnother), Ott crushed Denmark 10-2 in evening play. Like Ott, Anette Norberg of Sweden won twice on Thursday. After doubling Italy 8-4 in the morning, Norberg again bested Cassie Johnson of the U.S., 5-4 in evening play. Norberg had beaten Johnson last March in the final of the world championship in Paisley, Scotland. Johnson left her last rock short in the 11th end to give Norberg the win on Thursday. The U.S. are 1-4 and will need to win their last four matches in the Olympic round-robin to have a chance at the medal round. Switzerland and Sweden each have a 4-1 record to top the standings. Great Britain (3-1) are next after beating Russia 10-4 in the morning, followed by Canada and Norway.

In the morning match, Ott broke a 5-5 tie in the 10th end by scoring one to hand Kleibrink her second loss of the tournament. Kleibrink, who curls out of Calgary, was the first on the board when she scored one in the second end. Ott scored three in the fourth, but Kleibrink made a pretty shot to edge the Swiss skip's stone out of the way to score a deuce in the fifth to tie the game. Kleibrink stole one in the seventh, but Ott scored two in the eighth. The Canadian again tied the score in the ninth with a single, but Ott had an open look at the button with her final rock in the tenth to win the draw.

Gushue drops Trulsen for the men

Canada's Brad Gushue upped his Olympic curling record to 4-1 Thursday with a 6-5 win over defending men's gold medallist Paal Trulsen of Norway.
Trulsen fell to 2-3 on the tournament after his final rock of the 10th end rubbed on another stone, leaving Gushue's shot stone as the decisive point.

Gushue opened the scoring with two points in the first end and one in the second before Trulsen got one back in the third. The Norwegian then stole one in each of the next two ends to even the game, 3-3. Gushue reclaimed the lead in the seventh, drawing to the four-foot for one, before Trulsen gave up a steal in the eighth to hand Gushue a lead of two. Trulsen again squared the game in the ninth before Gushue picked up the winning point in the tenth via Trulsen's missed shot.

In other men's action on Thursday afternoon, David Murdoch of Great Britain kept pace with Gushue atop the standings with a 7-6 win over Germany's Andy Kapp, who fell to 1-3. Switzerland's Ralph Stoeckli evened his record at 2-2 with a 9-7 win over Sean Becker of New Zealand, who fell to 0-5. Pete Fenson of the United States stunned Sweden's Peja Lindholm by stealing two in both the ninth and tenth ends for a 10-6 win. Both skips are now 2-2.

Gushue returns to the ice on Friday evening for a game against Finland's Markku Uusipaavalniemi, who was idle on Thursday afternoon and stands at 2-2.

Canadian DQ'd in snowboard semi

Canadian Jasey Jay Anderson was disqualified from his semifinal heat Thursday as snowboard cross made its Olympic debut in Turin, Italy. Anderson, from Mont-Tremblant, Que., got tangled up with Spain's Jordi Font near the middle of the course, with both riders going down. While Radoslav Zidek of Slovakia cruised to the finish line in first, Anderson managed to get up and cross the line in second. But after judges reviewed the replay, Anderson was disqualified.

In snowboard cross, riders aren't allowed to make aggressive body contact but they are permitted to protect their personal space, which leads to jostling in many races.

Riders race side by side in groups of four in a number of elimination heats, with the top two advancing to the next round. Eventually four riders remain for the four-athlete final. Anderson regrouped from his disqualification in the semifinals to win the "small final" and earn the fifth position.

Anderson's mishap in the semis was part of a disappointing day for Canadians in the snowboard cross. Drew Nielson of North Vancouver, B.C., a medal favourite who had the fastest time in qualifying, finished third in his heat in the round of 32, failing to advance to the quarter-finals. Tom Velicek of Vernon, B.C., also did not make the quarters. Neilson got tripped up by Rafal Skarbek-Malczewski of Poland, who slipped and fell into the netting. Neilson made it down the course but was left shaking his head at the unpredictable nature of his sport.

Snowboard cross, formerly known as boardercross, is a big twist on its cousin, the parallel giant slalom. Fast reflexes, tight carves and a kamikaze psyche are keys to advancement. The Olympic course, designed by Canadian Jeff Ihaksi, is land-mined with elements called whoops, waves, banks, kickers and spines. These features test the riders' momentum and balance.

Swiss stun Czechs in men's hockey

The biggest shocker of the day came when Switzerland beat the Czech Republic 3-2 Thursday morning to pull off the first big upset of the men's Olympic hockey tournament.

Led by the brilliant goaltending of David Aebischer, Switzerland won its biggest game in the nation's hockey history. Mark Streit scored the winning goal on the power play at 6:42 of the third period. The goal came after Czech forward Vaclav Prospal took an ill-timed high-sticking penalty.

The key for the Swiss team was holding off an offensive onslaught by the Czechs in the second period. Aebischer made 20 saves including six against Jaromir Jagr. Playing with only two NHL players, the Swiss were penalized six of the eight infractions in the second and had to withstand a 5-on-3 penalty for nearly two minutes. Switzerland killed off the final seven minutes to take a 2-1 lead into the third period.

Aebischer, who was the clearly the best player on either side, was mobbed by his teammates after the game. The Czechs were playing without goaltender Dominik Hasek, who injured his left hamstring against Germany Wednesday. The 41-year-old Hasek will know Thursday whether his hamstring is torn as he is scheduled to have an MRI exam in the Olympic Village. (update:The trainer for the Czech Republic men's hockey team thinks Dominik Hasek is more likely to bow out of the Olympics than risk further injury).In his place, Tomas Vakoun made 16 saves but didn't look as strong as he did against Germany in the Czech's 4-1 win.

With Switzerland leading 2-1, Marek Zidlicky tied the game for the Czech Republic one minute into the third period. It was Zidlicky's first goal of the tournament. Jagr scored the Czech's first goal, but was robbed by Aebischer on several chances. During one stretch in the second, Aebischer dove across his crease to make a great pad save on the NHL's leading scorer. Thomas Ziegler gave Switzerland a 1-0 lead in the first period and Thierry Paterlini answered Jagr's goal in the second with a short-handed goal at 9:44.

Before the hockey tournament began, Switzerland players felt their team could upset one of the Olympic elite, but even the most ardent of them couldn't envision beating the defending world champions.

Swiss player Mark Streit provided the understatement of the day,

"I think it's by far the biggest win in Swiss hockey – since I've been playing. Even in history, it's kind of a miracle."

Switzerland plays Canada on Saturday.

U.S avoids disaster by tying Latvia

Jordan Leopold saved the United States from a potentially embarrassing loss in men's hockey action at the Torino Olympics on Wednesday. The Calgary Flames defenceman beat former NHL goaltender Arturs Irbe early in the third period with a hard shot just inside the Latvian blue-line as the teams skated to a 3-3 tie at the Palasport Olimpico. Latvia, which failed to qualify for the Salt Lake Games four years ago, had a chance to bury the 2002 silver medallists but couldn't find the net on the power play.

"We were not expected to win or even get the tie," said Irbe, who made 18 of his 39 saves in the third period. "We were big-time underdogs in this game in everybody's eyes except our own people.

The shut your big mouth award

Goes to...no big suprise Don Cherry!
Cherry had a message for coach Melody Davidson and the Canadian Olympic women's hockey team:

Stop running up the score in Turin, Italy, or else.

"If you keep it up, you're committing suicide and they'll throw [women's hockey out of the Winter Games after Vancouver in 2010]," the Hockey Night in Canada personality said on Wednesday night, referring to the International Olympic Committee.


Canada has outscored the opposition 36-1 during its three preliminary-round games, including a 16-0 thrashing of Italy to open the tournament on Saturday. The man who's mouth is at times as loud as his jackets, echoed with his comment the ones by American defensemen Angela Ruggiero.

"I'm upset that Canada has been running up the score, especially against the host nation," Ruggiero told Sports Illustrated's website on Monday.

"There was no need for that. They're trying to pad their stats ... Canada is running up the score for whatever reasons – personal, short-term."

To Cherry and the critics who have said the Canadian women lack class, these girls went to Turin to play their best, and that's what there doing. It's not their fault the rest of the world hasn't woken up to the huge success of womens hockey.

T don't agree with Cherry who believes the sport could receive the same treatment in the Olympics as baseball and softball. Last week, the IOC – which is comprised of 125 members, of which 60 are European – voted against reinstating both sports for the 2012 London Games at their annual meeting in Turin.

"They don't play [baseball and softball] in Europe, [so the IOC] had it thrown out," Cherry said. "If you beat all those European [hockey] teams [by lopsided scores] and make a mockery of the hosts [they'll throw it out]."

They play hockey in Europe, just not at a competitive level, yet. Women's hockey is about the same level as the men's game was in the fifties, with only a couple of countries dominating. Noboby said get rid of the game then. Some developement money and better coaches, and the game will improve.

And finally the dumbest attempt at a defense...

Goes to Nikolai Durmanov, head of the Russian Anti-Doping Committee When asked about Russian biathlete Olga Pyleva positive test for a banned substance, Durmanov blamed Pyleva's positive test on a doctor who treated her for an ankle injury in January. According to Durmanov, the doctor gave Pyleva an over-the-counter medication that did not list carphedon as one of its ingredients.

"This was 100 per cent the physician's mistake," Durmanov said.

The silver medallist in Monday's 15-kilometre race, had been stripped of her medal and thrown out of the Torino Olympics after two doping tests came back positive. CBC News has learned Pyleva tested positive for the stimulant carphedon. Pyleva, 30, is the first athlete to fail a drug test at these Winter Games.

Carphedon was developed in Russia and used to treat a brain disorder that causes dementia and seizures. The drug can also be used to increase physical stamina and provide improved tolerance to cold. As a result, it appears on many of the lists of banned substances made by the IOC.

Later,
Kenaz