A look at five of Canada’s top medal hopefuls

With one month to go before the 2010 Winter Olympics, Metro looks at five of Canada’s top gold medal hopefuls.

Canadian women’s hockey team
In the three Olympic Games since women’s hockey was introduced, the team has captured two golds and one silver. It will likely face off for the gold medal against the United States, which won the 2008 and 2009 world championships. Veteran forward Hayley Wickenheiser will vie for her fourth Olympic medal. “Hockey Canada has a goal to win three medals in Vancouver at the Olympics and Paralympics: Men’s, women’s and sledge hockey,” said Johnny Misley, executive vice-president of hockey operations at Hockey Canada. “Anything else would be a disappointment to all Canadians.”

Maëlle Ricker, snowboarder
Maëlle Ricker’s Olympic dreams were nearly dashed by knee injuries, but even eight surgeries couldn’t stop the North Vancouver resident from achieving 28 career podiums, including 13 victories, on the FIS World Cup Tour. She took fifth place at her first Olympics — the 1998 Nagano Games when she was 19 — and fourth in the 2006 Turin Games. In December, Ricker won gold at a World Cup stop in a snowboardcross event in Telluride, Colo.

Christine Nesbitt, speedskater
At the 2009 ISU Speedskating World Cup meet in December, Melbourne, Australia-born (and London, Ont.-raised) Christine Nesbitt won two gold medals in two days — the first in the 1,500-metre event and the second in the 1,000-metre event. In total, she has 13 World Cup gold medals, 22 silver medals and 11 bronze medals. With Kristina Groves and Cindy Klassen, Nesbitt took home a silver medal in team pursuit at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

Jasey-Jay Anderson, snowboarder
Jasey-Jay Anderson is Canada’s most decorated snowboarder. The 34-year-old native of Val-Morin, Que., won four consecutive FIS Snowboard World Cup titles from 2000 to 2004 and is a four-time overall World Cup champion. On Dec. 17, Anderson took top spot in the parallel giant slalom at a World Cup snowboarding competition — his 25th career World Cup victory across all disciplines.

Charles Hamelin, speedskater
The 25-year-old native of Levis, Que., has earned a dozen world championship medals since 2005, a silver medal at the 2006 Turin Games in the 5,000-metre relay and five medals — including three gold — at this season’s World Cup events. Hamelin will compete in the 500-, 1,000-, 1,500-metre events and the 5,000-metre relay at the 2010 Winter Olympics and is considered a medal threat in each one. Mylène Croteau, manager of communications for Speedskating Canada, believes Hamelin could be the first Canadian athlete to win gold  since the 1,500-metre medal rounds will be held on the first day of the Games.