MEN'S HOCKEY: CANADA ADVANCES TO FINAL CANADA 7, BELARUS 1.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - Once it stopped whining, the Canadians men's hockey team started winning.

Once team general manager Wayne Gretzky stopped saying the world was against his country, Canada started showing why so many originally picked it to finally win its first gold medal in 50 years.

Friday's 7-1 rout of Belarus in the semifinals not only put Canada in the gold medal game against the U.S., but was Canada's most impressive game of the tournament and third consecutive victory.

It appears the team Gretzky defended after a first-round loss to Sweden finally has arrived at the Olympics.

``The tougher games benefit you and harden you,'' said Steve Yzerman, a member of the 1994 Canada team that lost to Sweden for the gold medal. ``We had some tough games coming into this one. With each game we got better and better. Now we're in the game we came here to play.''

Not only is Canada facing the the U.S. with the chance for its first Olympic gold since 1952, it will play the Americans for the second time in three days for a hockey championship.

On Friday, Canada defeated the U.S. women in the finals.

But Sunday is the game everyone has been waiting for. When the Canadians started poorly in the tournament, it looked like another year of frustration. Gretzky vented the sentiment of an entire country that often feels like a comedy skit from ''Second City TV.''

``I think our team has been under a tremendous amount of pressure,'' said Gretzky. ``We've gotten better in every game. Now, we face the Americans.''

Friday, Canada showed its balance against the lesser Belarus by getting goals from seven different players.

Yzerman had the first goal just six minutes into the game and added two assists. Team captain Mario Lemieux added two assists and says his sore left hip won't keep him from Sunday's gold medal showdown with the U.S.

``We have the chance right now to do something special for our country,'' Lemieux said. ``We are proud Canadians. Hockey is our sport back home. It's something we can all cherish for a long time if we win a gold medal.''

Belarus, a qualifier with the Mighty Ducks' Ruslan Saleir as its only NHL player, made the semifinals with a 4-3 upset of Sweden Wednesday. But Canada held a 51-14 shot advantage Friday and Belarussian goaltender Andrei Mezin was pulled in the second period.

``Coach did the right thing when he pulled me out,'' Mezin said. ``I might have killed myself if I gave up another five or six goals. They're a great team.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Canada defenseman Eric Brewer sends Andrei Kovalev of Belarus crashing to the ice during Canada's 7-1 semifinal win Friday.

Frank Gunn/Associated Press

Box:

MEN'S ICE HOCKEY