As Vancouver hosts the 21st Winter Games, it is difficult not to notice that Canadians have a love affair with hockey that crosses generations and stretches back to the origin of the sport in the second largest country in the world.

In North America, Ice Hockey is as important as football in Europe. Many boys have already taken a stick in their hand and nowadays, it is not unusual to see girls playing too. As Denis Potvin, former Defenceman and Team Captain for the New York Islanders in the NHL, said, ''everybody has a history with the game''.

That's why it is very important for Team Canada to win the Gold. The men's team is looking to knock out the defending Olympic gold champions, the Russian team, and the women's team is hoping to go for their third gold medal since women's hockey became an Olympic sport in 1998.

And Canada have started well.....

The first games started last night with a Switzerland – USA match.  The Swiss held on until the 19th minute, until Bobby Ryan, the star of Anaheim Ducks, opened the score. When the game ended , to final result was a win for USA 3 to 1.

The Second game was totally dominated by Canadians. who beat Norway 8–0. Jarome Iginla of the  Calgary Flames, got things started with the first goal of the game two and a half minutes into the second period on a slap shot from the high slot.

Dany Heatley then deflected a Chris Pronger shot from the point past Norwegian goalie Pal Grotnes at 4:27 into the second to make it 2-0.

Iginla got his second in the third period by finishing off a nice two-on-one break with Rick Nash and Heatley fired a high slap shot to the top corner.

Iginla is one of four Canadians who played on the gold medal winning team in 2002 in the Salt Lake Olympics. The others are goalie Martin Brodeur, defence Scott Niedermayer and defence Pronger.

For the women, Canada beat Slovakia 18 to 0 and Switzerland 10 to 1.

Here are the ice hockey results so far:

February 13,
Sweden 3 - 0 Switzerland Women
Canada 18 - 0 Slovakia Women

February 14,
United States 12 - 1 China Women
Finland 5 - 1 Russian Federation Women

February 15,
Switzerland 1 - 10 Canada Women
Sweden 6 - 2 Slovakia Women

February 16,
United States 3 - 1 Switzerland Men
Russian Federation 0 - 13 United States Women
Canada 8 - 0 Norway Men
Finland 2 - 1 China Women
Russian Federation 8 - 2 Latvia Men