HELSINKI – Canada is trying to match a record for success in a hockey season accomplished only once previously. In 2008, Canada won medals at all five top level IIHF events: World Championship, World Women’s, World Juniors, World U18 men, and World U18 women. This year Canada has a bronze from the two men’s junior events and gold from the two women’s events, so a medal of any colour here at the senior World Championship would put Canada in its own rare company. The U.S. won five medals in 2010, but this was in a year with six events. The team won Olympic silver in both men's and women's hockey, gold in both men's junior events, and silver at the women's U18. The only unmedalled event was the World Championship (13th). Not a bad year all the same! The ability to win at five and more events is also a reflection of the IIHF’s incredible expansion over the decades. From the time of the first international event, the 1920 Olympics, until 1972, there was only one IIHF tournament a year – either an Olympics or a World Championship. But in 1972, the IIHF decided to have both events in the same season. The same happened again in 1976, and then the plan was shelved until 1992. The first time three events were held in a season wasn’t until 1990 when there was a World Championship and a U20 for men, and the first Women’s Worlds as well. In 1992, there were four events thanks to the addition of the Olympics. The first time five events were held was in 2002 when the Olympics featured men and women along with a World Championship, a U20, and a U18 for men. Russia won medals at four events, being shut out only from the women’s Olympics. In 2006, it was Finland that had medals in four of five events, also being shut out only in the women’s Olympics. In 2008, Canada had a nearly perfect season. Not only did it win medals in all five events, it didn’t win a bronze either, meaning Canada was in the gold-medal game of all events. This represented a remarkable, season-long success that has never been equaled. The team won gold at the two junior events for men, settled for a silver at the senior World Championship, and took silver in the two women’s events including the inaugural edition of the U18 for women. Two teams had extraordinary seasons in 2009-10. Sweden won medals in four events (not women’s or men’s Olympics), while Canada also had four medals (not men’s Worlds or men’s U18), but this was a year of six events. In 2011, the Americans had the finest year in their history, winning both women’s events as well as gold at the U18, and bronze at the U20. They finished a distant eighth at the men’s Worlds, the only blemish on an exceptional year. ANDREW PODNIEKS