ICE HOCKEY (9)

Canada duly won the world championships in Prague this evening, thrashing Russia 6-1 in the final. The Canadians were all-conquering, winning all of their 7 round robin matches, plus the three in the knockout phase, and scoring a lot of goals in the process.

Canada doesn't always do well in the world championships, since they clash with the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, which take place at the same time. On the two previous occasions when Canada played Russia in the final, in 2008 and 2009, the Russians won. And for the past five years, they have been knocked out in the quarter finals. This is in contrast to the Olympic Games, where the NHL graciously takes a break, allowing the Canadians to send their best team (they have won the last two).

However, this time a number of their top players were allowed to come, including Sidney ("Sid the Kid") Crosby, widely regarded as the world's best. In winning, Crosby became the 26th member of the Triple Gold Club, a select band of ice hockey players who have won all three of the Stanley Cup, World Championships and Olympic Games, and the first to have done so as captain. Since he is still only 27, it is quite possible that he will win a few more.

What is most dispiriting for the Russians (and other nations) is that they showed up with arguably their strongest possible line-up. They were humiliated by the Canadians' number one team at the Sochi Olympics last year, now they have been humiliated by their number two. They need a rethink.

Walter Blotscher