BEIJING 鈥� Canada鈥檚 men鈥檚 hockey team will renew its rivalry with the United States at the Beijing Winter Games Saturday. That headlines a busy day that also features another Canadian speedskating star possibly threatening the podium, the chance at another Canadian snowboard cross medal and the start of the ice dance competition.
Here are five things to watch at the Beijing Olympics on Saturday, Feb. 12.
Canada vs. USA: Men鈥檚 edition
The Canadian men鈥檚 hockey team will see the United States Saturday in group play. If the game is anything like the contest we saw with the women earlier in the week, we should be in for a treat. Neither side will have its current NHL stars to lean on. Four years ago in Pyeongchang, Canada and the U.S. never met in the men鈥檚 hockey tournament.
Women鈥檚 hockey quarterfinals play
The women鈥檚 hockey tournament is already into the knockout phase. On Saturday, Russia will face off against Switzerland and then Finland will face Japan. In all likelihood, Canada will see the winner of the Russia-Switzerland game in one of the semifinals and the U.S. will match up against the winner of the Finland-Japan game in the other one.
Dubreuil sprinting for gold
Laurent Dubreuil will be skating for a chance at a gold medal Saturday in the men鈥檚 500-metre speedskating sprint. Dubreuil is the 2021 world single distance champion in the 500 and is coming into Beijing with high expectations of at least a podium finish.
Gilles, Poirier begin ice dance medal pursuit
The Olympic ice dance competition will begin Saturday with the rhythm dance. Of interest to Canadians will be the pair of Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier. The Canadian duo won bronze at the 2021 world championships and look to be strong medal contenders in Beijing.
Canada hoping for another snowboard cross medal in mixed event
Meryeta O'Dine came up with a surprise bronze medal for the Canada in women鈥檚 snowboard cross. She, along with men's snowboard cross silver medallist Eliot Grondin and the rest of Canada's mixed snowboard cross team, will be on the hunt for a medal on Saturday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 10, 2022.
The Canadian Press
