Team Canada at Sochi 2014

[Faster]

Anyone predicting both Germany and Russia having high totals is completely off.

Right now:

Canada has medaled in 11 of 12 world championships (once the alpine ones are over it will be 10 of 12 likely)

USA 8 of 12

Germany 7 of 12

Russia 6 of 12

Austria 5 of 12

Norway 5 of 12

A strong Russian performance will cannabilize Norwegian and German medals and unless Russia can magically come up with a half dozen or so international calibre athletes the ball is in the Norwegian and German court over biathlon and the Nordic events. Russia is not going to win 45 medals, when they stand no chance in 46 events.

[intoronto]

http://www.infostradasports.com/vmt/?utm_source=Klant+Measuremail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Press+release+VMT&utm_term=752.12273.67.0.12273&utm_content=all+customers

Canada predicted to win 17 gold medals (17%; More then China's percentage in Beijing) and 32 medals. Right along with my predictions

[rio2016man]

Virtual Medal Table predicts a total of 32 medals for Canada at the next Winter Games including 17 golds Both will be the best ever Canadian hauls and will be enough for Canada to finish top of the medal table

[intoronto]

Virtual Medal Table predicts a total of 32 medals for Canada at the next Winter Games including 17 golds Both will be the best ever Canadian hauls and will be enough for Canada to finish top of the medal table

See two posts above.

[ofan]

http://www.infostradasports.com/vmt/?utm_source=Klant+Measuremail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Press+release+VMT&utm_term=752.12273.67.0.12273&utm_content=all+customers

Canada predicted to win 17 gold medals (17%; More then China's percentage in Beijing) and 32 medals. Right along with my predictions

I would like to know when this was made as a couple of these medal predictions are no longer favourites. An example is Del Bosco in ski cross and even Serwa on the women's side.

Nevermind there is a date on the bottom. However, what I said still holds true.

[intoronto]

I would like to know when this was made as a couple of these medal predictions are no longer favourites. An example is Del Bosco in ski cross and even Serwa on the women's side.

Nevermind there is a date on the bottom. However, what I said still holds true.

Ski cross is extremely unpredictable, and both of these athletes have multiple times won medals at world cup or world championships.

[ofan]

Ski cross is extremely unpredictable, and both of these athletes have multiple times won medals at world cup or world championships.

Yes but it is updated monthly, so it is a little strange that they are still on top.

[Gangwon]

I haven't been following too closely, but wow is Canada really on pace for a new record? Surely, there must be some considerations that we won't have access to the venues for practice time this time around?

I hope this isn't setting Canada up for a letdown.

[Sir Rols]

I haven't been following too closely, but wow is Canada really on pace for a new record? Surely, there must be some considerations that we won't have access to the venues for practice time this time around?

I hope this isn't setting Canada up for a letdown.

Well, we followed up Sydney with our best ever games results in Athens four years later. That wouldn't be a bad precedent for Canada to follow.

[dave199]

February 6, 2013
Updated: February 6, 2013 | 2:18 pm

Canada’s 2014 Winter Games predictions

By Donna Spencer The Canadian Press

Share this Article

The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh
Kaillie Humphries, right, from Calgary, Alta., and her
brakeman Jennifer Ciochetti, from Edmonton, Alta., celebrate their win
following the women's World Cup bobsled event in Calgary, Alta., Friday,
Feb. 10, 2012. Humphries is an athlete to watch for the Sochi Winter
Games.

CALGARY – The Sochi Olympics open one year from Thursday. Canada
won 26 medals four years ago in Vancouver. Here’s a sport-by-sport look
at Canada’s team and predicted medal haul in Russia:

ALPINE SKIING

If Canada’s men can stay healthy for the next 12 months — and that’s a
big if — Erik Guay, John Kucera, Manuel Osborne-Paradis and Jan Hudec
have proven they can stand on the podium on any given day in men’s
downhill and super-G. Marie-Michele Gagnon and Erin Mielzynski are medal
longshots in women’s slalom and giant slalom.

The one to watch: Erik Guay.

Medal prediction: 1

BIATHLON

Jean-Philippe Le Guellec’s gold medal in a World Cup sprint in
December was historic for Canada and a breakthrough for the Shannon,
Que., skier. He needs more of those results, however, to be considered a
legitimate medal contender in Sochi.

The one to watch: Jean-Philippe Le Guellec

Medal prediction: 0

BOBSLED

Defending Olympic champion Kaillie Humphries of Calgary is dominating
women’s bobsled a year out from the 2014 Games. The men have the talent
and tools to produce a medal in the two-man and four-man events in
Sochi.

The one to watch: Kaillie Humphries

Medal prediction: 2

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

Own The Podium has invested a lot in nordic skiing since 2010 because
it represents 30 per cent of the medals available in Sochi. Devon
Kershaw of Sudbury, Ont., and Alex Harvey of St-Ferreol, Que., lead a
men’s team poised to get on the podium after seven top-10 results in
2010. Kershaw and Harvey are contenders for gold in the team sprint and
carry medal potential into their individual races.

The one to watch: Alex Harvey

Medal prediction: 2

CURLING

No country will be as battle-hardened as Canada’s entries. The
qualification road to Sochi requires beating the best teams in the world
several times at domestic events just to wear the Maple Leaf at the
Games. The pre-trials and trials tournaments are scheduled for later
this year.

The one to watch: Glenn Howard is the favourite to represent Canada in men’s curling.

Medal prediction: 2

FIGURE SKATING

Reigning world and Olympic champions Tessa Virtue of London, Ont.,
and Scott Moir of Ilderton, Ont., look ready to dazzle again in ice
dance. Can world champion Patrick Chan of Toronto capture Canada’s
elusive first gold in men’s singles? With a new team event in Sochi, the
combination of Chan, the ice dance team and decent results in pairs and
men’s singles gives Canada another medal opportunity.

The one to watch: Patrick Chan

Medal prediction: 3

FREESTYLE SKIING

Canada has more depth in freestyle than any other sport. There are
multiple medal threats across all five disciplines, including the new
events of halfpipe and slopestyle. Calgary’s Roz Groenewoud is a top
contender in women’s halfpipe, the event her late teammate Sarah Burke
championed to get into the Winter Games prior to her untimely death last
year. Alexandre Bilodeau of Rosemere, Que., will try to defend his
title in men’s moguls.

The one to watch: Roz Groenewoud

Medal prediction: 9

HOCKEY

Anything less than hockey gold is a disappointment to Canadians. The
NHL has yet to declare its participation in men’s hockey in Sochi. The
Canadian women prepare harder than any other country to win gold and
have won three in a row, but every meeting with the U.S. women these
days is a coin toss.

The one to watch: Hayley Wickenheiser

Medal prediction: 2

LUGE

Alex Gough is a consistent medal producer internationally. She and
fellow Calgarian Sam Edney make Canada a strong medal contender in the
new mixed relay event, but a medal there depends on a strong leg from a
young doubles team.

The one to watch: Alex Gough

Medal prediction: 1

NORDIC COMBINED

Canada will likely have one quota spot in the last men’s-only sport
in the Winter Olympics. Wesley Saville of Calgary is currently trying to
earn it.

The one to watch: Wesley Saville

Medal prediction: 0

SHORT-TRACK SPEED SKATING

This sport’s constant crashes and post-race disqualifications make it
hard to handicap. Canada should produce medals from the men’s and
women’s relays. Charles Hamelin, the defending Olympic champion in the
500, remains a medal threat in that distance.

The one to watch: Charles Hamelin

Medal prediction: 4

SKELETON

The women’s squad, led by 2006 bronze medallist Mellisa Hollingsworth
and this year’s world bronze medallist Sarah Reid, has a decent chance
at producing a medal in Sochi. Defending Olympic champion Jon Montgomery
took last season off and is still adapting to a new sled setup.

The one to watch: Sarah Reid

Medal prediction: 1

SKI JUMPING

When women’s ski jumping was excluded from the 2010 Winter Games,
some of Canada’s top female talent retired. Atsuko Tanaka returned to
the Canadian team in 2012 after competing for Japan for two years. She’s
finished in the top 10 at a couple of World Cups, but Canada isn’t a
strong podium contender in either men’s or women’s ski jumping.

The one to watch: Atsuko Tanaka

Medal prediction: 0

SNOWBOARDING

Coming off a four-medal world championship, the snowboarders will be a
key medal producer in 2014. Olympic champion Maelle Ricker and world
championship medallist Dominique Maltais give Canada a one-two punch in
women’s snowboardcross. The new discipline of slopestyle is fertile
medal ground as Mark McMorris of Regina won this year’s X-Games title
and Spencer O’Brien of North Vancouver, B.C., has won a women’s world
title in the event.

The one to watch: Maelle Ricker

Medal prediction: 3

SPEED SKATING

The long-track team isn’t as deep as it once was with the retirements
of Clara Hughes and Kristina Groves. Christine Nesbitt, the Olympic
champion in the 1,000, remains a medal favourite. The London, Ont.,
native can pull the women’s pursuit team to a medal. While Denny
Morrison of Fort St. John, B.C., recovers from a broken leg, teammate
Jamie Gregg of Edmonton is posting strong international results in the
sprints. The men’s pursuit team is also a medal contender.

The one to watch: Christine Nesbitt

Medal prediction: 2

TOTAL MEDALS: 32

[Gangwon]

It would be interesting to see the predictions for Vancouver back in 2009. Not that I have the time to search it up, but I recall there were predictions to top the overall medals back then too.

But still, as a Canadian, one can't help but feel excited about 2014.

[Faster]

Actually no, if I remember correctly we were predicted to win between 26 and 28. We won 26 and left 4 on the table (Chris del Bosco, Melissa Hollingsworth, the women's team pursuit and one I can't remember).

But in some cases, Roberge was expected to medal, but instead Hamelin's gf won a silver, so a lot of cases a surprise medal made up for a missed medal.

I think if there wasn't any added sports Canada would be looking at 20 to 24, its the added events that have kept us up.

[dave199]

It would be nice if we can sweep an event. Possibly in Men's Moguls?

[Fox334]

It would be nice if we can sweep an event. Possibly in Men's Moguls?

I think men's slopestyle in Snowboarding is actually our best bet at a sweep. Coincidendally its the first event of the games (qualifications before opening ceremonies, finals at 9 *am* on the first day).

[intoronto]

It would be nice if we can sweep an event. Possibly in Men's Moguls?

That is tricky. Men's moguls is up there.

[intoronto]

Well TSN will be broadcasting some of the sports. Thank god to this because we can see it on more channels now.

[world atlas]

Canadian Kingsbury wins Sochi mogul event

Published Friday, Feb. 15 2013, 5:43 PM EST

Last updated Friday, Feb. 15 2013, 5:43 PM EST

On a day when the weather in Sochi, Russia was all over the map, Canadian freestyler skier Mikael Kingsbury proved utterly unflappable.

Neither changing temperatures, mushy conditions nor even a blast of rain could prevent Kingsbury from winning the men’s World Cup mogul event held Friday on the same course that will be used for next February’s 2014 Winter Olympics. The International Ski Federation moguls’ points leader finished atop the field with a strong final run at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park.

The win was his fifth of the season and pre-qualified him for the Canadian Olympic team.

For Kingsbury, of Deux-Montagnes, Que., it was mission accomplished and valuable lessons learned.

“The conditions were very soft, very slushy,” Kingsbury said. “We had every kind of weather. At the end of the qualifying for the boys, it started to be cold. The snow froze up … During the super final it rained.We’ll be ready for everything next year. Hopefully if the weather next spring is like that I’ll be very confident.”

The weather in Sochi has become a pre-Olympic concern. While organizers have guaranteed there will be snow for the Games – it will be trucked in from outlying areas if necessary – warm temperatures have played havoc with snow conditions. Earlier in the week, weather forced the cancellation of World Cup snowboard slopestyle races at Rosa Khutor. And on the same day Kingsbury won in moguls, the parallel slalom snowboard races were postponed then eventually cancelled.

The day before, racers had struggled their way down a choppy course that went to pieces on Friday.

"There is always a balance of risk if you run two events on two consecutive days on the same slope because you don't have that much preparation time," FIS snowboard race director Uwe Beier told reporters. "But we have proven in the past that this is definitely possible.”

Kingsbury, only 20, showed that no matter the obstacle, he remains the man to beat heading into his first Olympics.

“It’s an advantage for me to qualify. There is some pressure off my shoulders now in the World Cup. Now I can just focus on the World Cup and my training,” he said. “It’s important to make sure I come back for the Olympics (that) I know a lot about the course.

While Canada didn’t earn a medal in the women’s moguls –defending Olympic champion Hannah Kearney of the U.S. took the event - there are still World Cup races remaining for team members to earn their pre-qualification for the Olympics.

“For (the athletes), it’s very critical,” said Peter Judge, the chief executive officer of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association. “They want that result in the bank so they can focus on preparing for the Winter Games and world championships. It’s good for the team psyche. Certainly, two podiums (Friday) is a big plus.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/canadian-kingsbury-wins-sochi-mogul-event/article8753181/?cmpid=rss1

[reidjr]

As for mens hockey i hope they go with youth over experence.

[intoronto]

As for mens hockey i hope they go with youth over experence.

I'd prefer a mix with some people who have played on the European ice (like a Joe Thornton).

[Faster]

Thorton is too old and slow.

I think the team will be

Crosby, E. Staal, Stamkos, Toews, Giroux, Nash, Getzlaf, Lucic, Perry, Mike Richards, and than 4 of Tavares, Duchene, J. Staal, Eberle, Hall, Seguin, Bergeron, Benn, Neal and Skinner

Weber, Doughty, Kieth, Seabrock, Pieteranglo and 3 of M. Staal, Letang, Meyers, del Zotto, Subban

Price, Ward, Luongo

[Faster]

Just looking at numbers and the potential size of Team Canada. I see probably reductions in cross country, alpine skiing, the elimination of nordic combined but overall a similar size team of 200, could push to 220 with FS and snowboarding.

[intoronto]

I see at least one nordic combined athlete (Wesley Savil)

Alpine - 14 (-7)

Biathlon - 10 (+2)

Bobsleigh - 12 (same)

Cross country 7 (maybe 8) men and 4 women (-4)

Curling 10 (same)

Freestyle 26 (+8)

Figure skating (I think Canada will get 1 in women's and 3 in each other) 16 (+4)

Hockey 44 (same)

Luge (1 men, 3 women and 1 doubles) = 6 (-4)

Nordic Combined 1 (same)

Short track 10 (same)

Skeleton 6 (same)

Ski Jumping (1 male and 3 female) = 4 (same)

Snowboarding 24 (+6)

Speed skating 16 (will likely remain the same).

= 209 (+3 athletes from Vancouver)

[Faster]

Alpine at 14 would be -8, sent 22 to Vancouver

Hockey will likely be 46, the men's teams (if NHLers go) will be 25. 14 forwards, 8 defenceman and 3 goalies.

Its kinda funny after sending two straight max teams in luge, a reduction in athletes is probable this time around. But it would be extremely surprising if Canada doesn't medal in luge (or all 3 sliding sports, given that agreement Canada and Russia reached regarding the track).

[intoronto]

Alpine at 14 would be -8, sent 22 to Vancouver

Hockey will likely be 46, the men's teams (if NHLers go) will be 25. 14 forwards, 8 defenceman and 3 goalies.

Its kinda funny after sending two straight max teams in luge, a reduction in athletes is probable this time around. But it would be extremely surprising if Canada doesn't medal in luge (or all 3 sliding sports, given that agreement Canada and Russia reached regarding the track).

In the official report 21 was listed. Is hockey getting an increase?? It was 23 in Vancouver.

I would be surprised as well. And a reduction is a certainty. Canada will only send one male athlete.

[Faster]

A few of the major federations (Canada, USA and Sweden) and the NHL have asked for an increase in players because of injury.