There are, to be sure, countries other than Canada and the United States who play women's hockey. But they're all battling for third in a sport that is utterly dominated by just two nations.

And so when Canada and the U.S. take to the ice at MTS Centre on New Year's Day, it would seem safe to say that the game will turn out to be a battle between the eventual gold and silver medallists at the upcoming 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

The only question still to be answered -- and it's a big one -- is which is which?

And so while women play the game, don't expect Sunday's Canada-U.S. tilt to be very ladylike. "It's always a big game when you play the U.S.," Canadian coach Melody Davidson told reporters yesterday after her team worked out at MTS Centre.

"There's no question -- neither country wants to give the other country any type of edge... Regardless of what the coaches want to do, I don't think the players are going to allow either team to get any edge."

Yesterday, the Canadians took a big step forward in the defence of their 2002 Olympic gold-medal win over the Americans at Salt Lake City with their first workout together since Canada named its 2006 Olympic women's hockey team last week.

The Canadians worked out at MTS Centre late yesterday afternoon, played a pick-up game last night with the young members of the Dakota Lazers and East End Wings and are expected to work out at MTS Centre again this morning. The team will then fly later today to Minneapolis, where it will play the Americans tomorrow night.

The two teams will then fly north to Winnipeg on Saturday, in preparation for Sunday's game, which will be the last between the two teams until they meet up in Turin in February.

About 7,500 tickets have already been sold for Sunday's game. And with a walk-up crowd anticipated, veteran Canadian forward Hayley Wickensheiser predicted some ear-splitting decibels on Sunday.

"Eighty-five-hundred people at a women's hockey game -- and usually half of that is screaming girls," laughed Wickenheiser. "So it gets pretty loud.

"It's a very different atmosphere than an NHL game."

Asked what kind of game spectators can expect from Canada against the Americans, Wickenheiser said it will be the kind the officials will allow. "It really depends on the officiating. How far are they going to let you play? There's no hitting in the women's game, so you sort of feel each other out and see what the refs are going to call.

"But it's physical, it's intense, it'll probably be a very entertaining game... An intense battle, lots of emotion and lots of excitement."

Among the Canadians with some mixed emotions right now are Pilot Mound's Delaney Collins., who was not named to the Olympic squad, but remains with the team as its only alternate.

While Canada did promote an alternate to its squad prior to the 2002 Olympics -- touching off a legal battle involving Nancy Drolet, who lost her roster spot -- Davidson said the only way Collins will make this team is if there's an injury.

'Tough situation'

"We have no intention of changing the team," Davidson said. "But we want her ready if the opportunity arises."

Collins said yesterday she's determined to work hard, just in case the opportunity does arise.

"It's definitely a tough situation. But it's important I make the best of it and stay game ready and keep a positive attitude," Collins said.

The absence of Collins from the main squad gives Manitoba just one representative on the team -- Winnipeg's Jennifer Botterill. Winnipeg's Sami-Jo Small will also accompany the team to Turin, but only as a third goaltender. A two-time Olympic medallist, Botterill said she's looking forward to the chance to play before a hometown crowd on Sunday for the first time since the Canadian women played at Winnipeg Arena in 1997.

"I've got quite a few family and friends coming," said Botterill. "I'm looking forward to it.

"We're taking steps towards the Olympics. And so every chance we get to play (the U.S.), we try to bring our best."

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca