Team Canada against a wall

Traditional power sits 0-2 with Russia next

WE WOKE UP AND PULLED THE CURTAINS AND THE SUN WAS SHINING.

The morning after what might have been the worst — if not most shocking — loss in the history of Canadian women’s hockey, the players pulled back the curtains and discovered the sun had come up again. That was the simple message delivered from head coach Laura Schuler after Canada lost 4-3 to Finland, the first time it’s happened at the world women’s hockey championship.

That, coupled with a 2- 0 loss to the United States in their inaugural game on Friday, puts Canada in uncharted territory at 0-2.

Normally, the women’s team breezes through tournaments like these and only get challenged when it faces the U. S. But even if Canada defeats Russia on Monday, there is a chance that the Canadians will not receive the usual bye through to the semifinals.

For once, there is adversity.

“I think disappointed is a good word,” said goalie Shannon Szabados. “But at the same time I think coach Schuler said it best, we woke up this morning and pulled the curtains and the sun was shining. It’s a new day. We play hockey, because it’s fun but also because it’s a challenge. It would be pretty boring if you played every game without that happening.”

When asked if she ever faced a situation like this with t he national t eam, which has claimed gold in each of the past four Olympics and reached the final in every single world championship, Szabados smiled.

Not really, she said. Although the last time Canada won the world championship, the team had lost 9-2 to the U. S. in the round robin.

“That wasn’t fun, either,” said Szabados. “So there’s some similarities t here. ( Back then, the U. S.) just came out f l ying and we were on our heels the whole game. They just caught us off guard. But we won in the end.”