“The difference in class of Russia and Canada is very small, as both sides have players of the highest level in their squads. I suppose that a very small margin will separate them in Vancouver. That is why I believe that the winner will be the team which will manage to unite better than the others,” he added.

Ruff refused to predict the team that will grab the Olympic gold, but stressed that it may be not Canada or Russia, who triumph in the end.

“There are two and a half months left before the Olympics and many specialists believe that Canada and Russia will meet in the final clash of the hockey tournament. To my mind there will be many other strong teams besides Canada and Russia,” the 49-year-old said.

“I think that two teams, which will be perfectly prepared in the middle of February, will meet in the final game. Nothing is clear yet, and each team stands good a chance of clinching the gold,” he added.

Lindy Ruff was Canada’s coach at last year’s World Championships, where his team lost to Russia in the finals. Regardless, the country’s hockey officials were satisfied with his work and Ruff will continue his work with the national team at the Olympic Games in Vancouver as an associate coach of Mike Babcock.

“I had fantastic impressions from my first international tournament – the World Championship in Switzerland. I think it was a very valuable experience for me,” he said.