Canada, U.S. men's hockey teams make most of bizarre Olympic scrimmage setting

BEIJING — Canada and the United States are fierce hockey rivals — no matter the setting.

Sidney Crosby, Tony Amonte, Cammi Granato, Hayley Wickenheiser and a host of others have etched their names in the struggle for continental supremacy.

Monday afternoon at Beijing's National Indoor Stadium won't make any top-10 lists or likely even be remembered — there were no referees, a clock or a scorekeeper — but the countries' Olympic men's teams went just about as hard as they could in a controlled scrimmage with the tournament just around the corner.

There were hits, big saves, a bit of blood spilled and a level of mutual respect.

"We just needed to play," Canadian head coach Jeremy Colliton said. "We wanted the game and tried some different things."

It was, however, an awkward position for both sides, which are set to compete in Group A and scrambling to prepare. Canada plays Germany in its opener Thursday, while the U.S. meets China before the North Americans go at it for real Saturday.

"Probably not perfect," Colliton said. "We're working together. We're using them to prepare ourselves and vice versa."

The teams played two scoreless periods before the U.S. finally found the back of the net in 3-on-3 overtime.

"We're both in the same position," U.S. head coach David Quinn said following both teams' first live action. "There's not going to be a lot of secrets."

Colliton and Quinn recently coached in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers, respectively, so that helped them formulate a plan. The teams got two power plays each and worked extensively at 5-on-5.

Officiating was done by Canadian taxi squad members Chris DiDomenico and John Gilmour, who were mostly there to keep a loose order.

"I think