The Canadian men’s hockey team will begin their Olympic tournament at long last, Jennifer Jones and Canada’s women’s curling team will begin their Games and Isabelle Weidemann will skate for her second medal in Beijing.
Here are five things to watch at the 2022 Beijing Olympics on Thursday, Feb. 10.
Canada’s men’s hockey team begins its Olympic pursuit
Led by 37-year-old captain Eric Staal, Canada’s men’s hockey team will get going in preliminary play against Germany. Canada’s team won’t showcase any current NHL stars like Connor McDavid or Sidney Crosby, but it does feature former NHL players, such as Staal, and future stars like 19-year-old Owen Power, who was taken with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2021 NHL Draft. The Canadian men finished with a bronze in Pyeongchang four years ago with a similarly NHL-less roster.
Weidemann going for a second medal in Beijing
Ottawa’s Isabelle Weidemann captured Canada’s first medal at the Beijing Games when she skated to a bronze medal in the women’s 3,000 metre speed skating event. On Thursday she’ll have an opportunity to add another medal, competing in the women’s 5,000 metre competition.
Jennifer Jones opens her Olympic tournament
Jennifer Jones and her Canadian rink will begin its Olympic women’s curling tournament Thursday. Jones and Canada’s women will start their tournament with a match against Korea. At 47 years old, Jones is Canada’s oldest Olympian in Beijing. She will be looking to redeem a disappointing sixth-place effort from the Rachel Homan skipped Canadian team in Pyeongchang.
Gushue, Canada’s men’s curling team face off against Norway
Brad Gushue’s Canadian men’s curling team will play its second match of the round robin on Thursday, taking on Norway. The results of the match will obviously be important in the context of the tournament itself, but of more immediate concern to curling fans will likely be the kind of fashion statement the Norwegian men will making. Norway’s men’s curling teams have made a reputation of wearing some very memorable outfits – pants in particular – over the course of the past few Olympics.
Men’s figure skating competition concludes
Nathan Chen of the United States will be looking to carry momentum he’s built from his world record performance in the short program into the free dance of the men’s figure skating event on Thursday. If Chen performs like he did in the short program he will walk away as the new Olympic champion, dethroning two-time Olympic champ Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan, who is currently in eighth place in the competition. Canada’s Keegan Messing will be entering Thursday’s free skate in ninth place.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb.8, 2022.
The Canadian Press
