Can it get any better than Wednesday's 7-3 pounding of Russia for a hockey mad nation like Canada?

The women's hockey team hope so.

While Canada, Slovakia, Finland and the U.S. prepare for Friday's men's semi-finals, the focus shifts to the women and Thursday's gold medal showdown between Canada and the United States.

The Canadian women will look to feed off the emotion of Wednesday's emotional win for the Canadian men, not to mention four medals all won by women in bobsled, speed skating and short track speed skating.

Canada are the two-time defending gold medalists in women's hockey, having beaten the Americans for gold in Salt Lake City and Torino.

The United States won the inaugural gold medal in Nagano in 1998.

Thursday's gold medal game starts at 3:30 Thursday afternoon.

Finland and Sweden meet at 11 a.m. in the bronze medal game.

While Canada is guaranteed at least a silver medal in women's hockey, Montreal's Joannie Rochette will try to secure a second medal when she competes in the long program in women's figure skating.

Rochette, who's mother died unexpectedly of a heart attack earlier in the week, sits in third place after a strong short program Tuesday night.

Cheryl Bernard and Kevin Martin try to secure no worse than a silver medal when they compete in the semi-finals in curling.

Bernard, who finished the preliminary round at 8-1 will take on Switzerland in the semi's Thursday morning while Martin, unbeaten in round robin play, battles Sweden in the men's semi Thursday afternoon.

After a one day delay due to fog, the second and final run in the women's giant slalom is scheduled for Thursday morning at Whistler. Shona Rubens had the best Canadian time in the first run, finishing 22nd.

Three Canadians, including West Kelowna's Steve Omischl, are in the finals of men's aerials at Cypress Mountain.

Omischl was fifth in qualifying, right behind teammate Kyle Nissen. The final starts at 6 p.m.

Medals will also be handed out in the ladies cross country ski relay and Nordic combined events.

Canada's medal count stands at 15, seven gold, six silver and two bronze.