Figure Skating - Pairs Long Program

I've decided to only blog about the top 8 pairs as the others won't have a chance to get on the podium, and the 2 Canadian teams are in the top 8 anyways.

First, I have to say the French team of James and Bonheur really impressed me!!! They had a tremendous long program, they will be a threat in the future for sure!

Volosozhar and Morozov from the Ukraine are skating to Pearl Harbor which is what I skated to for my final program before I stopped skating... yeah yeah, I'm tearing up. They had a good skate, a couple of errors, but still very good.

Langlois / Hay (Canada) 64.20 -7th after the Short Program
-I'm so nervous... GO CANADA GO!!!
-perfect double twist
-side by side triple sows - she fell
-throw triple sow - perfect!
-side by side triple toe - double toes , both were great, they fought for the landings
-throw triple flip, she landed on two feet
TOTAL SCORE - 179.97
Well that's a shame, they won't get a medal. The worst they can do is 9th.

Langlois & Hay

Zhang / Zhang (China) 71.28 -5th after the Short Program
-side by side double axle triple toe combo, he fell
-side by side triple sows, perfect unison
-triple twist - huge!
-throw triple loop looked so easy!
-throw triple sow was perfect as well
TOTAL SCORE - 194.34
What a great skate! Good for them!


Mukhortova / Trankov (Russia) 63.44 - 8th after the Short Program
-huge triple twist
-side by side triple sow, she fell
-another side by side was very off in unison
-great throw triple loop
-throw triple sow was great too
TOTAL SCORE - 185.79
They are skating to Love Story, which is what Jamie Sale and David Pelletier won gold with in Salt Lake City. It's funny because they are commentating, so they keep saying how it brings back all the memories.

Dube / Davison (Canada) 65.36 - 6th after the Short Program
-the nerves are back... A LOT. C'mon Jess and Bryce!!!! You can do it!!!
-triple twist was perfect
-side by side double axle, double axle was perfect
-side by side triple sows she fell... damnit!
-throw triple flip, she two footed the landing
-throw triple loop - landed!!!!!
TOTAL SCORE - 187.11
That's really too bad... they are totally capable or skating better than that.
The worst they can do is 6th.

Dube & Davison

Kavaguti / Smirnov (Russia) 74.16 - 3rd after the Short Program
-throw quad sow - she tripled it and put her hand sown on the landing
-side by side triples were perfect
-great triple twist
-side by side double axles, he stepped out of the landing and then they weren't able to do the 2nd double axle
-she fell on a throw triple
TOTAL SCORE - 194.77
Too bad, they started out strong, it kind of fell apart at the mid-point.

Savchenko / Szolkowy (Germany ) 75.96 - 2nd after the Short Program
-side by side triple toe, triple toe - she doubled the 2nd triple toe
-throw triple flip was beautiful
-they both had problems with the side by side double axles
-unison problems in the side by side spins... similarly to Kavaguti and Smirnov, they are breaking down now
-triple twist was great
-beautiful throw triple jump
TOTAL SCORE - 210.60


Pang / Tong (China) 71.50 - 4th after the Short Program
-side by side double axle, double axle combo were great
-side by side triples were perfect
-HUGE triple twist
-HUGE triple throw!!!
-throw triple loop was perfect too! Good for them!
TOTAL SCORE - 213.31
A podium performance for sure!!! What a great skate!!

Shen / Zhao (China) 76.66 - 1st after the Short Program
-side by side triple toes were perfect
-side by side double axle - double axles, also perfect
-she fell out of a lift! oh my god! That never happens with them!! eeks!!
-huge triple twist
-throw triple loop was amazing
-throw triple sow was perfect as well
TOTAL SCORE - 216.57
I think that even with that lift problem, they've won gold. I'm fairly sure of it. Let's wait and see!

 Shen & Zhao

3. Savchenko / Szolkowy from Germany

2.Pang / Tong from China

1. Shen / Zhao from China

6. Dube / Davison
9. Langlois / Hay

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Figure Skating - Pairs Short Program

I'm watching the Pairs short program, and it's a fantastic competition! Let's break it down now.

Shen / Zhao (China)
-they've been retired for 2 years and are back for the games, personally, I don't think that's fair.
-side by side triple toes were perfect
-great triple twist
-great skate!
SCORE - 76.77 (HUGE, that's a new Olympic Record and World Record)

Shen & Zhao:
Sergejeva / Glebov (Estonia)
-messy skate
-a couple of falls
SCORE - 42.18

Sulej / Chruscinski (Poland)
-lots of falls
SCORE - 39.30

Denney / Barrett (USA)
-weak side by side jumps, she doubled
-okay skate overall
SCORE - 53.26

Hausch / Wende (Germany)
-messy skate
-she touched the ice on the landing of a throw
SCORE - 45.46

James / Bonheur (France)
-both doubled side by side jumps
-they had a huge throw jump
SCORE - 51.16

Bazarova / Larionov (Russia)
-unison problems on side by side jumps
-they had a great throw triple loop
SCORE - 56.54

Evora / Ladwig (USA)
-squeeked out side by side triple toes
-had a great skate!
SCORE - 57.86

Langlois / Hay (Canada)
-their side by side triple toes were perfect
-fantastic double twist
-huge throw triple toe
-YEAY!!! Fantastic skate!!
SCORE - 64.20 (personal best)

Langlois & Hay:

Kostenko / Talan (Ukraine)
-messy double axles
-terrible death spiral
SCORE - 39.54

Della Monica / Kocon (Italy)
-fantastic side by side triple sows
-she stepped out of the landing on a throw jump
SCORE - 56.82

Kemp / King (Great Britian)
-sloppy side by side jumps
-they skated to a piano version of Numb by Linkin Park... it was odd.
SCORE - 48.28

Morand / Dorsaz (Switzerland)
-side by side double axles
-great throw jump
-they skated to Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, again, odd.
SCORE - 55.34

Mukhortova / Trankov (Russia)
-huge triple twist
-he fell on their side by side triple jump, she touched the ice on the landing
-great throw
-it's too bad about the fall, other than that, this was a great skate. He's really upset about it. That's too bad.
SCORE - 63.44

Volosozhar / Morozov (Ukraine)
-first off... what are they wearing? They look like super hero Smurfs!!
-he fell on the side by side triple toes
-great triple twist
-HUGEST triple throw I've seen in a long time!!
SCORE - 62.14

Volosozhar & Morozov:

Kavguti / Smirnov (Russia)
-3 time Russian champions
-side by side triple toes were perfect
-great triple twist
-triple throw jump was perfect as well
-fantastic skate
SCORE - 74.16

Dube / Davison (Canada)
-perfect triple twist
-she fell on the side by side triple sow
-perfect triple throw
-it's such a a shame about the fall on the side by side jump, other than that, it was a perfect performance!
SCORE - 65.36

Dube & Davison:
Pang / Tong (China)
-4th place in Turino
-side by side triple toes were great
-HUGE triple twist
-throw triple loop was gigantic
-they had a great skate!
SCORE - 71.50

Zhang / Zhang (China)
-huge triple twist
-throw triple loop was great
-perfect side by side triple sows
-there was a problem with the side by side spin, he dropped his leg in a Y spin
SCORE - 71.28

Savchenko / Szolkowy (Germany)
-Current world champions
-throw triple flip was great
-side by side triples were perfect
-triple twist was nice
-they skated VERY well
SCORE - 75.96

RESULTS AFTER THE SHORT PROGRAM
1. SHEN Xue/ZHAO Hongbo 76.66

2. SAVCHENKO Aliona/SZOLKOWY Robin 75.96

3. KAVAGUTI Yuko/SMIRNOV Alexander 74.16

4. PANG Qing/TONG Jian 71.50

5. ZHANG Dan/ZHANG Hao 71.28

6. DUBÉ Jessica/DAVISON Bryce 65.36

7. LANGLOIS Anabelle/HAY Cody 64.20

8. MUKHORTOVA Maria/TRANKOV Maxim 63.44

9. VOLOSOZHAR Tatiana/MOROZOV Stanislav 62.14

10. EVORA Amanda/LADWIG Mark 57.86

11. DELLA MONICA /NicoleKOCON Yannick 56.82

12. BAZAROVA Vera/LARIONOV Yuri 56.54

13. MORAND Anais/DORSAZ Antoine 55.34

14. DENNEY Caydee/BARRETT Jeremy 53.26

15. JAMES Vanessa/BONHEUR Yannick 51.16

16. KEMP Stacey/KING David 48.28

17. HAUSCH Maylin/WENDE Daniel 45.46

18. SERGEJEVA Maria/GLEBOV Ilja 42.18

19. KOSTENKO Ekaterina/TALAN Roman 39.54

20. SULEJ Joanna/CHRUSCINSKI Mateusz 39.30

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Men's Olympic Hockey Preview - Germany

Germany

Olympic Appearances:
1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1956-1964, 1992-Present (United), 1952, 1968-1988 as East/West Germany

Best Finish: 3rd (1932)

Total Medals Won:1

Pool: Sweden, Finland, Belarus

Germany has been kicking around the Olympic Men's Hockey Tournament since 1928, although in many different forms. Prior to WWII, they were of course a unified entry, but with the split into East and West Germany, they competed as separate teams for most of the Cold War. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, Germany's entry has again be unified, although results haven't followed.

Like Switzerland, the Germany program has improved over recent years, and can now normally boast at least a few legitimate NHL Players.

Goalies

 Dennis Endras (Augsburger Panther)
Thomas Greiss (San Jose Sharks)  
Dimitri Pätzold (ERC Ingolstadt)

Defence

Michael Bakos (ERC Ingolstdt)
Christian Ehrhoff (Vancouver Canucks)
Jakub Ficenec (ERC Ingolstadt)
Jason Holland (DEG Metro Stars Düsseldorf)
Korbinian Holzer (DEG Metro Stars Düsseldorf)
Chris Schmidt (Adler Mannheim)
Dennis Seidenberg (Florida Panthers)
Alexander Sulzer (Nashville Predators)

Forward

Alexander Barta (Hamburg Freezers)
Sven Felski (Eisbären Berlin)
Marcel Goc (Nashville Predators)
Philip Gogulla (Portland Pirates)
Thomas Greilinger (ERC Ingolstadt)
Manuel Klinge (Kassel Huskies)
Marcel Müller (Kölner Haie)
Travis James Mulock (Eisbären Berlin)
André Rankel (Eisbären Berlin)
Marco Sturm (Boston Bruins)
John Tripp (Hamburg Freezers)
Michael Wolf (Iserlohn Roosters)

The German roster includes 6 NHL players, which is the most of any outside the traditional hockey powers. As a result, I think this German team can potentially be the 'best of the worst' and maybe even grab a spot in the quarterfinals.

However, for them to do that well, they will first have to escapte a very tough pool with a respectable overall seeding. Odds are that Germany won't beat Finland or Sweden, so their game against Belarus on Day 9 will be a key one for them in terms of determining their ranking in the qualification stage. Win that game, and you can be seeded as high as 5th in the qualification round, maybe grabbing an easier game against someone like the Swiss or Latvia. Lose that Belarus game, and you're probably seeing the USA/Finland/Czechs/Slovaks.

Linkback: Other Rosters

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The Olympic Hockey Jerseys

Care of the IIHF, the Olympic Hockey Jerseys were unveiled today! We already knew what the Canadian Jersey looked like, so no big surprise there, but it’s very cool to see the whole collection. On the whole, I’m fairly impressed…there is only one set of jerseys that I really don’t like. But we’ll get to that:

Belarus

Starting out with one of the underdogs of the tournament here. There really isn’t that much to complain about, it’s a nice traditional hockey jersey, which is all I really ask for. In an independent setting, I don’t think I’d go with the red/green combo here, but of course we're working with National Colours here.

Canada

I’m probably not as big of a fan of these jerseys as I have been of past Team Canada jerseys. I’ll always be partial to the 2002 era jerseys I think. However, considering the controversy that surrounded the Hockey Canada logo earlier in the year, I think that this is a very very good compromise. I like the new logo a lot, and it fits in well with the theme of Vancouver 2010. I’m not terribly stuck on the red shoulders on the home jersey, but its not a make-or-break thing for me.

China

It’s very very strange to see a Chinese hockey jersey as they're not traditionally known to be a hockey powerhouse…..regardless, I like the design, if it is somewhat plain. I think my only criticism is that I’d like to see a horizontal band around the waist, rather than the vertical striping. That’s just the traditionalist in me though…

Czech Republic

Now you can’t see the back here, but judging from the front, it seems like they have finally gotten rid of that pointless ‘C-Z-E-C-H’ that they used to have right across the butt. Any writing that historically drew my attention to Dominik Hasek’s ass can’t be considered ‘good’... anything is an improvement over that.

Finland

I’m normally a pretty big fan of Finnish jerseys. The two-tone blue gives you a lot to work with, and is there anything more iconic about international hockey than the ‘Suomi’ stitched across a jersey? Unfortunately I think this incarnation misses the mark just a bit, for the simple fact that the ‘Suomi’ here is just a hideous colour, and totall clashes with the rest of the jersey. Why on earth have they decided to go with an Orange-Red? I think it looks especially bad on the away blue jersey.

Germany

I think that my favourite jersey of the whole set is the German away jersey, with the Iron Eagle almost ‘watermarked’ across the arms. There are a few instances of this ‘watermarking’ on other Jerseys, and it’s a risk…sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I like it here however….two thumbs up!

Latvia

I’ve always been a big fan of the Latvian jerseys. I think the dark maroon and white colour scheme works well together. This iteration is another really good example of the scheme, with my only criticism being the ‘LATVIJA’ across the waist…..could probably do without that, continuing the band right across.

Norway

I normally want to see tradional designs in hockey jerseys. There is nothing that gets me going more than some abomination of a third jersey that looks like it was drawn by a 2nd Grader. The Norway jerseys here instantly evoke thoughts of the New York Rangers..a classic. Despite that, this jersey still doesn’t quite do it for me. Dare I say that its…too traditional…to the point of maybe being a little boring?

Russia

Oh our arch nemesis. As much as people think Canada is the favourite for gold…the Russians are gonna be very tough. Just so much skill. Anyways, right.....the jerseys…here is the second example of the ‘watermarking’ approach, and I don’t think it works as well here as it did for the Germans. The Russian jersey has a lot more secondary striping than the Germans, so I think the addition of the ‘watermarking’ clutters it up somewhat. The test here will be how much that ‘watermaking’ actually shows up in real life. If its subtle enough, I think it could still work.

Slovakia

This is a fairly basic entry from the Slovaks. Take a boilerplate template, add a logo…and done! It might be simple, but I think it still works. The Slovaks have a solid logo, so you don’t need to mess with it too much…

Sweden

Ahh, the “Tre Kronor”. When you have something that works, why mess with it. I’m a particular fan of the dark blues here…It’s a classic!

Switzerland

Oh for shame Switzerland. Evidently guided by their strict neutrality, it would seem the Swiss have found themselves unable to choose sides on their jersey, and have decided to just leave it blank….for fear finding themselves on the wrong side. What’s worse, the one feature that they do have is poorly executed. Why does the should striping stop at about the collarbone? It makes it look like a bib…….Anyways, maybe once they finish the jersey, I’ll be able to comment further….

United States

The only country to apparently roll out a third jersey, the USA gets it right with a simple yet effective design. Their third jersey is obviously from the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’, and they have used its clean design as inspiration for their main jerseys. The only thing I could do without are the stars on the white home jersey…but otherwise I like ‘em….

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Fun and Interesting Winter Olympic Facts!

- The first Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix, France in 1924.

- Norway has won the most medals (263) at the Winter Games.

- Because of World War I and World War II, there were no Olympic Games in 1916 (Summer), 1940, or 1944 (both winter).

- No country in the Southern Hemisphere has ever hosted a Winter Games.

- Only four athletes have ever won medals at both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games: Eddie Eagan (United States), Jacob Tullin Thams (Norway), Christa Luding-Rothenburger (East Germany), and Clara Hughes (Canada).

- Nobody has won more medals at the Winter Games than cross-country skier Bjorn Dählie of Norway, who has 12.

- The last Olympic gold medals that were made entirely out of gold were awarded in 1912.

- The 1980 Games in Lake Placid were the first to use artificial snow.

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Men's Hockey Roster Announcement Dates

Little ways off still, but here is the dates that each Nation will be announcing their Men’s Hockey Rosters. In chronological order:

Belarus: December 23
Russia: December 25
Sweden: December 27
Latvia: December 29
Norway: December 29
Slovakia: December 29
Czech Republic: December 30
Finland: December 30
Germany: December 30
Switzerland: December 30
Canada: December 31 December 30
USA: January 1

The Canadian announcement will be integrated with the WJC Tourney in Saskatchewan no doubt, and the USA announcement will be part of the NHL Winter Classic.

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