Sochi 2014: What to watch, Day 12 (February 19)
Before we get to the viewing nuggets that are ahead on Day 12, thought I'd first bring you some more highlights from the 1924 Olympics, since yesterday's installment went so well. Since this will be another big day in hockey for us, let's see how we did at the first Winter Olympics, in Chamonix, France, 90 years ago.
Pretty well, actually. In three round robin games, Canada went undefeated, beating Czechoslovakia, Sweden and Switzerland. Total score from those three games combined? 85 - 0. The Swedes were our toughest competition, falling 22 - nothing (but I'm sure there was an empty-netter factored in there). In the medal round, Canada defeated the Swedes again. Believe it or not, that score was also 22 - nothing (Busted that one open with 10 in the third). A 19 -2 win over Great Britain and a 6 - 1 win over the U.S. and Canada took the gold. Top scorer? Harry "Moose" Watson. 37 goals, 9 assists in 5 games. Geezuz. Pass much, Harry?
Quarter-final men's hockey highlights Day 12, with Canada taking on Latvia, coached by the Buffalo Sabres’ Ted Nolan. The team's only current NHL player, Zemgus Girgensons, plays for Nolan in Buffalo. So, yeah. Former NHL defenceman Sandis Ozolinsh, 41, is the captain. Almost half of this team is made up of players from the city of Riga's team in the KHL and I have no idea in hell what that means. They upset the Swiss to get to this game and I do have an idea in hell what that means. Means Canada will be in the semi-finals. 12 pm ET, on CBC.
As well, the Finns meet the Russians (7:30 am ET, CBC), the U.S. takes on the Czech Republic (12 pm ET, TSN2) and Sweden squares off with Slovenia (3 am ET, TSN).
The Canadian curling teams are each a win away from guaranteeing a silver medal at least. The women's semi-finals go at 5 am ET, on Sportsnet One. Canada's Jennifer Jones squares off against Great Britain's Eve Muirhead, with the winner going to the gold medal game. Muirhead is the reigning world champion, while Jones hasn't lost here yet, making Olympic curling history.
On the men's side, Brad Jacobs leads Canada against China, skipped by Rui Liu. The Chinese men are coached by a Canadian, Marcel Rocque, who's been a key component in their rise. 9:45 am ET, on Sportsnet. Neither of these games are gimmes for Canada. Curling's just like hockey, these days. Not in that the players all ride around in uniform on golf carts. In that the rest of the world has caught up to us.
I heard this on TV on Day 11: "You can have your graceful ice dancers, your high flying aerialists. But if you want pure power in a woman, you have to come to the bobsleigh." True, and absolutely practical in a Canadian winter. If your car is stuck, who are you gonna call on? Tessa Virtue? Not a chance in Kokko. Let it also be said that the above quote can also apply to the men. Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse, of Canada, are defending Olympic champions. The women's bobsleigh final goes at 11 am ET, on Sportsnet One.
Kaetlyn Osmond and Gabrielle Daleman represent Canada as the women's figure skating showdown begins. That's right, I used the term "showdown" for a figure skating competition, so what? The defending champion, Yuna Kim, of Korea, took three years off after the 2010 Olympics. Then, she returned last year to win the world championship. Which, I'm sure, pleased all her competitors a great, great deal. 10 am ET, on TSN.
The men's giant slalom ski competition has its qualifying runs at 2 am ET, on CBC. The finals go a few hours later, at 5:30 am ET, on TSN. This is not to be confused with the Giant men's slalom competition which is not a thing but really should be.
Biathlon goes co-ed with the mixed relay final. Because you know what they say: "The couple that cross-country skis for a bit and then lies in a prone position in order to fire a rifle at a target 50 metres away and then skis for a bit more before, once again, lying in a prone position to fire a rifle at another target 50 metres away together, stays together." 9:30 am ET, on Sportsnet One.
And, finally, here's the description of tonight's episode of "Sochi Seinfeld," direct from the Russian TV Guide:
Kramer convinces Jerry to purchase large quantities of herbal supplements from a Latvian bobsleigh coach. George is embarrassed while hot tubbing with the Japanese women's curling team. Elaine is convinced a member of the Russian Police Choir is only pretending to sing.