from Scott Russell of CBC,

Already in the Olympic Park the bands are playing and folks are sporting their colours.

Still, the only two sweaters I’ve seen so far belong to the home team and Canada. Sometimes it’s Russian people who are wearing the red and white jerseys bearing the maple leaf and on occasion I’ve noticed that a Canuck has donned Alex Ovechkin’s familiar number 8.

It suddenly becomes apparent that in this place there is a fervent and simmering hope that the cherished rivalry has a chance to boil over.

As it is with many Canadian fans, the character players have a special place in the Russian people’s hearts. When I asked Aleksei who he admired most on the Russian side he shook his head at the suggestion of Ovechkin or Evgeni Malkin.

“It’s Pavel Datsyuk,” he said. “He has lots in his head, good moves and big experience. Plus he’s a good guy.”

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