10.02 Russian Hockey Star Kovalchuk Praying for Gold at 4th Olympics

SOCHI, February 9 (R-Sport) - Home advantage isn't enough for Ilya Kovalchuk in his quest for a hockey gold medal at his fourth Olympics - he wants God on his side too.

A bronze at the 2002 Salt Lake City games is all Kovalchuk has to boast despite being part of a consistently high-powered Russian national team for 12 years.

Expectations are high that Zinetula Bilyaletdinov's men will finally break their post-Soviet gold duck this month.

"Everything is the same. It's my fourth Olympics and each time when we arrive people expect a lot from us," said the 30-year-old SKA St. Petersburg forward. "If God helps us, everything will turn out this time," he added.

"It's great pressure. We've seen how much Sochi changed from 2007, when we won the (right to hold the) Olympics. It's a great honor for everybody to be here."

The main obstacles along Russia's path to gold are reigning champion Canada, who trounced Russia 7-3 in the Vancouver quarterfinals, Sweden, the reigning world champion, and Finland, among others.

"We have a great team, and great team spirit here. We believe in ourselves and our coaches, so I think we have a good chance."