And now a word from our prime minister

NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA

****************************** Prime Minister Stephen Harper congratulates Team Canada on Olympic gold medal hockey win

VANCOUVER - Prime Minister Stephen Harper today congratulated Canada’s men’s hockey team on their gold medal victory at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

“Along with Canadians from coast to coast to coast, I am thrilled and extremely proud of the outstanding performance by our men’s hockey team and the gold medal win at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games,” said the Prime Minister. “The passion and love for the game shown both by Team Canada and the fans has demonstrated once again that hockey truly is Canada’s game.”

The Canadian Olympic men’s hockey team has a core group of veteran players, blended with younger, rising stars from the National Hockey League. 

Twelve of the 23 players - more than half the roster - are below the age of 25, and just seven Olympians return from the 2006 Games in Turin. 

Fourteen of the players competed in their first Olympic Winter Games. 

The exciting games we witnessed throughout the Olympics, coupled with a solid victory in winning the gold, proves that Canadian players are the best in the world.

The 2010 Olympic Winter Games are being held from February 12 to 28.

Canada is being represented by more than 200 athletes who are competing in a 15-sport competition schedule at nine venues in Vancouver, Richmond and Whistler.

More than 5,500 athletes, coaches and team officials from more than 80 countries are participating in these Olympic Games.

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