Ice hockey giants set to clash at Halifax Worlds

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

HALIFAX, Canada (AFP) — Russia and the Czech Republic will aim to topple defending champion Canada at the World Hockey Championships, but establishing Olympic credibility is also high on everyone's wish list.

Many of the teams competing at the Halifax Worlds, which gets underway Friday, will also use this as a testing ground for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

And since this is the first time since 1962 the Worlds have been held in North America, that means some adjustments for the European teams.

They not only is there added travel, but they must also get used to the different size ice surface in North America. Both the Worlds and the Vancouver Olympics will be played on the smaller North American rinks.

"It is a big difference," said Finnish...