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5. Women's Ice Hockey

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Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

When the sport was first introduced on the Olympic level in 1998, the U.S. Women's Hockey Team won the first gold medal. Since then, Team USA has been without a single gold and rival Team Canada has earned three. Look for Jesse Vetter's goaltending to help put the USA back on top.

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4. New Sports

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Nathan Bilow-USA TODAY Sports

Among the new sports are ski halfpipe, snowboard slopestyle, parallel special slalom and women’s ski jumping. None of those probably will play well with TV audiences with the possible exception of women’s ski jumping. Jessica Jerome of Team USA is a name to watch in that sport.

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3. Bobsled Intrigue

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Russell Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Team USA won a gold medal in bobsledding in 2010 behind “Night Train” Steve Holcomb, the first gold for the country since 1948. Can Holcomb lead the USA to the podium again? If he can’t, he should certainly win gold for the best nickname in the Olympics.

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2. Packing Again

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Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Two-time U.S. figure skating champion Ashley Wagner grew up as a military brat, living in three countries and four states mostly at military bases since her father was in the service. She currently trains out of Southern California and is a strong contender to win the gold in Sochi.

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1. Men's Ice Hockey

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Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Behind Ryan Suter, a tireless defenseman, Team USA has a chance to repeat its surprising silver medal showing in 2010. Team Canada, though, is probably too good for them this time -- although that’s what they said about the Soviets in 1980, too.


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