Eye on Sochi: Vanek, Austria eliminated

by Betsy Helfand

Austria’s men’s hockey team, which sports former Gophers hockey player Thomas Vanek, lost Tuesday to Slovenia.

The Austrians were shut out 4-0. Vanek had four shots on goal in the game.

Team Austria is 1-3 in Olympic play and has been eliminated from medal contention.

Team USA

The U.S. men’s hockey team will return to action Wednesday at 11 a.m. against the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals.

If the Americans win, they will move on to play the winner of the Canada-Latvia quarterfinal matchup in the semifinals.

Three former Gophers hockey players — Phil Kessel, Blake Wheeler and Paul Martin — are competing for Team USA in Sochi, Russia.

US tied for first

The United States is tied for first with the Netherlands in the Olympic medal count. The two nations have 20 medals apiece.

The Americans have won gold medals in figure skating, snowboarding and skiing.