2010 WINTER OLYMPICS MENS HOCKEY LATEST ODDS CANADA REMAINS FAVOURITE

It’s been a decidedly shaky start for the Canadians in their home campaign to secure Olympic gold at the Vancouver 2010 games. Despite their disappointing 5-3 loss to the United States yesterday, the UK bookmakers are still insisting that Canada are the favourites to win the tournament. The only emphatic victory they have under their belts is a 7-0 rout of Norway in their opening fixture and even there they didn’t play all that convincingly, getting shut out in the 1st period.

Canada now has to play Germany in a qualifier before facing Russia and then the winner of the (expected) Sweden-Slovakia quarter-final. It is more or less the hardest road they could have chosen, but if they can’t beat Russia, Slovakia or Sweden then they weren’t going to win a gold medal anyway.
Canada are currently listed at 2.75 to win Olympic gold with Russia still retaining 2nd spot with a 3.75 price. The United States is at 4.75 while Sweden are trading at 6.0. The United States has shortened in price, they were previously around 8.0, and they look like real upstarts. Finland’s odds are a solid 11.0 and they have been performing well so far. The Czech Republic are no easy match and they trade at 13.0.
My long shot selection is the sharp-looking Slovakia who trade at a massive 21.0. This is a really quality side if you actually examine their roster and they have been playing the type of hockey that Canadian fans can only dream of at the moment. The presence of Zdeno Chara can’t be understated, and the Slovaks have plenty of players who can score.
Switzerland are listed at 51.0 to win the gold, while Germany are at 501.0. Latvia trades at 751.0 while Norway can be backed at 1001.0.
Canada are by no means out of this, but their first three games just haven’t been up to par. The loss against the United States definitely stings, but it could provide the impetus for these players to step up and make their country proud. The bookmakers look like they still believe, and you don’t have to worry about Canadian fans. The question is- do the Canadian players think they can do this?