Canada defends hockey gold

By Andrew Heliotis

BELLEVILLE – The last time the Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team took to the ice, in Vancouver in 2010, they won a gold medal. After four years they are back to defend that gold, but this time without home-ice advantage.

Canada will take on Norway in Group C action today at 12 noon EST. Canada comes into this Olympics with a complete roster of National Hockey League players. Norway, on the other hand, has only one NHLer, New York Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello.

Former Belleville Bull P.K Subban, the reigning Norris Trophy winner as best defenceman in the NHL, will be suiting up for Canada in his first Olympic Games. Before today’s game, however, Subban was informed he would be a healthy scratch, along with forward Matt Duchene. He is set to make his Olympic debut Friday against Austria.

Subban has the advantage of experience playing on international ice surfaces, which are larger than NHL ice pads, thanks to his time in Belleville. The Yardmen Arena where the Bulls play has the larger ice.