Five-time Olympic medalist Charles Hamelin could add a sixth to his impressive list, the Canadian men’s curling team will begin its quest for a medal and the Olympic men’s hockey tournament will finally begin.
Here are five events to watch at the Beijing Games on Wednesday, February 9:
Young Brooke D’Hondt in action (8:30 p.m.)
The men’s and women’s snowboarding halfpipe event gets under way. This event will mark the Olympic debut of Alberta’s Brooke D’Hondt, who at 16 is the youngest athlete on the Canadian team in Beijing.
There aren’t too many expectations for her, but her future could be bright. On the men’s side, three-time US Olympic gold medalist Shaun White will begin his quest for a fourth consecutive title.
McEachran at the big jump final (10 p.m.)
Canadian Evan McEachran is one of 12 freestyle skiers to qualify for the Big Air final. In qualifying, McEachran had achieved the 11th best score.
Entrance of the hockey players (3 h 40)
The men’s hockey tournament gets under way, with two games. The powerful team of the Russian Olympic Committee faces Switzerland and the Czech Republic has an appointment with Denmark.
No current NHL player is in the Olympic tournament, but Russia is counting on former Bettman Tour players in its roster, like Artem Anisimov and Slava Voynov.
Canada opens its tournament on Thursday.
Hamelin could go down in history (6 a.m.)
his fifth and final Olympic Games, Charles Hamelin, 37, could become the fifth Canadian Olympian to win six Olympic medals as he competes in the 1,500 meter short track speed skating event.
If he does, he will join Cindy Klassen as the only Winter Olympian to do so.
Swimmer Penny Oleksiak holds the Canadian record for seven Olympic medals in two Games, sprinter Andre De Grasse has six in two Olympic Games and Clara Hughes has six in three Summer Games and three Winter Games, both in cycling and speed skating.
Pascal Dion and Steven Dubois will also be part of the eight waves of the 1500m.
Boutin back on track (6:44 a.m.)
On the women’s side, Kim Boutin, bronze medalist in the 500 meters on Monday, will try for her part to put herself in a position to add to her crop by participating in the preliminaries of the 1000 meters and the semi-finals of the women’s relay.
Boutin won a silver medal in the 1000 meters in Pyeongchang.
Beginning of the men’s curling tournament (7:05 a.m.)
After a disappointment in mixed doubles, Canada will have another opportunity to shine in curling when captain Brad Gushue and his team begin their tournament against Denmark.
For the first time since curling was reintroduced to the Olympic program in 1998, Canada’s men’s team did not win a medal in Pyeongchang, finishing fourth.
The 2018 team was led by Kevin Koe. Gushue previously guided Canada to a gold medal at the 2006 Games in Turin.
