At one point, not too long ago, it was feared that women's ice hockey would suffer the same demise as women's softball and be cut from the Olympics. Among the reasons cited was that the sport simply wasn't competitive enough. Nearly every gold-medal game in international competition had been an exclusive Canada-USA party. Not enough countries were fielding strong teams and there wasn't demonstrated improvement. What improvement there was, was not happening quickly enough.
Then a horrible, yet miraculous, thing happened. Team USA lost to Sweden in the semifinals of the 2006 Torino Olympics. It was a painful experience for Team USA fans, and I think my jaw is still suffering from how resoundingly it dropped when Sweden's Pernilla Winberg scored in the shootout and Team USA didn't. The fact the game went into a shootout at all was shocking enough.
But there was a silver lining. Sweden's win was incontrovertible proof that, yes, women's ice hockey was getting more competitive. Get your grubby, money-saving hands off my sport being in the Olympics, you IOC commissioner, you.
Alas, the 2010 Vancouver Olympics had Canada and the U.S. meeting, once again, in the gold-medal final. They had a combined goal differential of 86-4, reopening the discussion of eliminating women's hockey from the Olympics.
Right now, the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championships are taking place in Zurich, Switzerland. The preliminary rounds have already occurred and judging from the scores, once again, it is a Canada-USA party. And no, the remaining six competitors have not been invited.
Team Canada has beaten Switzerland 12-0, Kazakhstan 7-0 and Finland 2-0. Finland put up a fight, but it was still outshot 50-14. Team USA trounced Slovakia 5-0, Russia 13-1 and, this one really gets me, Sweden 9-1.
Sweden! What gives? 9-1? You're supposed to be competition.
With their wins, Team USA and Team Canada each get an automatic bye into the semifinals this coming Saturday, April 23. I am willing to bet a lot of money that the gold-medal game will be Team Canada versus Team USA.
Considering the scrutiny that the sport is under, I hope I am wrong.
