the Informer

With less than one week remaining in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic games, the United States has once again proven to be the dominant force among highly skilled athletes from around the world. Currently leading all countries with 28 medals, and tied for first in gold with Germany at seven, Team USA has shown tremendous effort and strides on and off the playing grounds.

The biggest story of the past week in Vancouver was team USA’s final game of the men’s preliminary Ice Hockey round, where they faced a stacked Canadian team. Almost guaranteed to lose, the young American team went into the arena with one goal in mind, achieving the impossible. The underrated bunch did just that, outscoring Team Canada with a final of 5-3, securing the lead off of Trumbull, Conn. native and current New York Ranger, Chris Drury’s goal.

Over the weekend U.S. Olympian Apollo Anton Ohno broke the record for most medals won by a U.S. athlete in the winter games, passing long track speed skater Bonnie Blair. Ohno placed third in the 1,000-meter short-track event and earned his seventh Olympic medal.

Among the latest American gold medalists is fan favorite Shaun White, who dominated his event of the men’s Halfpipe in Snowboarding. Going last for both of his two runs, White surpassed his competition with ease, defeating Finnish silver medalist Peetu Piiroinen by a margin of 3.4 points on the second heat. White, who stands alone in the spotlight of the event, reigns as champion for Team USA.

Team USA’s still-growing list of gold medalists includes Shani Davis for men’s 1000-meter Speed Skating, Evan Lysacek for men’s Figure Skating, Bode Miller for men’s Super Combined Alpine Skiing, and Lindsey Vonn for women’s Downhill Alpine Skiing.

Still to come in the Vancouver games are the highly anticipated semifinal and final games for men’s Ice Hockey. The events, that never fail to attract a high amount of spectators and viewers, will close the games and determine the final medal winners. With a great chance of making it to the final round with their bye to the querterfinals, Team USA has been looking sharp and comfortable as the young team of mostly first time Olympians have a shot at Olympic history.

Today at 6:30 p.m., the U.S. women’s Ice Hockey team will face Canada in the final round of the tournament in hopes of bringing home the gold. Defeating Sweden 9-1 in the semifinal, Team USA will find a bigger challenge in facing the home country for the highest Olympic achievement. At 2 p.m. Sweden will face Finland to determine the bronze medalist of the tournament.

With the final days of the 2010 Olympic games winding down, be sure to tune into NBC and their affiliates to catch all the remaining action. With only a handful of medals left to win, the final one by far will be the one fought hardest for when the best in the world in men’s Ice Hockey go head-to-head for Winter Olympic glory.