By the time you’re reading this, yours truly will be walking the Vancouver streets enjoying the sporting events and atmosphere that are the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

I can’t help but envision what will be an absolute gong-show in and around Vancouver with millions of people from all parts of the world, coming together for a two-week period. The build-up and anticipation for an event of this magnitude is nothing short of spectacular.

But with all the hoopla comes expectations for Canada, especially in men’s hockey. This NHL all-star team is expected to win gold and anything else is considered a failure. We believe in our hearts that Canada and hockey go hand-in-hand and that we truly are the best at the sport.

But yet, I have to pose the question. What if Canada . . . loses? What if it doesn’t win gold?

What if the Canadian men’s hockey team falters and is unable to claim gold?

I know, I know, as a Canadian citizen, this assumption is forbidden right now. How dare anyone think for even one second that Canada won’t take home the ultimate prize! We’re the home team! There’s no way Canada loses! No way!

I bleed red and white just like any other Canadian citizen and will be wearing the colours with pride. But speculation is part of life in general. People speculate all the time. I’m speculating on what I’ll be eating for supper as I write this and it’s also part of my job as a reporter. So I’ve decided to fill you in on why it’s not a lock that Canada wins gold and why this team is going to have its work cut out for them:

1. We didn’t win last time

Last time I checked, the Canadian men’s hockey team didn’t win the gold medal the last time we took part in the Olympics in 2006. Darn Swedes.

2. We don’t have Alexander the great

Arguably, the best player in the world today, Alexander Ovechkin (I said arguably!) is not on our team. Russia does, and the electric superstar would love nothing more than to stick a dagger in Canadian fans’ hearts by scoring the winning goal in the third period against Team Canada in the gold medal game.

3. Pressure

I’ve never seen or witnessed this much hype for a hockey team in my entire life. They’re going to be playing in front of a raucous home crowd where expectations have never been higher. So, the pressure this team will face will be immense.

4. Netminding

Before the team roster was announced, top stories on major sports networks in Canada revolved around who will be the third goaltender on the team that will carry water bottles to the bench during intermissions. That netminder right now is expected to be Marc-Andre Fleury. Don’t drop the Gatorade Mr. Fleury! In a short tournament like this, goaltending is paramount. Canada isn’t the only country in the world that has elite goaltending. Heck, Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres and a soon to be member of team U.S.A., has played lights out this season in the NHL and could be a thorn in Canada’s side.

Now whether you want to accept my skepticism or not is up to you. You can put on your Canadian Sidney Crosby jersey and believe that there is nothing stopping us when the games begin. But Canadian hockey fans must have the mindset going into this Olympic tournament that a gold medal in men’s hockey is not a sure thing. Rather, it’ll be a heavyweight fight and this thing is going to go 15 rounds. Bank on it.