TURIN, Italy -- The success of Team Canada here at the Games will be largely determined on steel -- and the medal haul on blades should begin tomorrow.

Not only are the Canadian long track skaters making their much-anticipated debut, but so are the short-trackers, and let's not forget that's the group that brought home the most medals, six, four years ago.

"From the top five guys we lost only Marc (Gagnon)," veteran Eric Bedard said. "We are more mature. We have more speed and more experience. Three guys with three Olympics."

That's true, but Gagnon did come home from Salt Lake City with three medals: in the 500 metres, the 1,500 and the team relay.

His loss is huge. However, short track has developed a Montreal-based system that continues to produce world-class athletes.

At 29, Bedard, of Ste-Thecle, Que., may be in the twilight of his career, but he remains a contender in Week 2's sprint, judging by his two World Cup silvers in the 500.

First up, though, is tomorrow's 1,500 metres, the specialty for Sherbrooke's Mathieu Turcotte, who's counting on hitting the podium.

Charles Hamelin of Ste-Julie, Que., is also strapping on the blades for this one.

ONLY OLY ROOKIE

Hamelin's the only Olympic rookie on the men's team, and at 21 may be a little green for gold, silver or bronze.

"I'm feeling a lot of pressure and stress," Hamelin admitted here. "I don't know what to expect and how I will cope with the stress."

Also up tomorrow is the women's preliminary in the 500, featuring veteran Alanna Kraus of Abbotsford, B.C., and promising youngster Kalyna Roberge of Ste-Etienne-de-Lauzon, Que.

They won't hand the medals out until the 15th, but today should tell us two things: does Kraus have an additional gear that can push her into the top three? And can Roberge, just 19, turn in the race of her life on the biggest stage she's ever seen?

We'll also get a glimpse of the women's relay team tomorrow, with the preliminary portion of that event. The final goes Feb. 22.

"The relay team is going better than ever," Montreal's Tania Vicent said. "So it's really exciting for us to attempt a silver or gold medal, instead of always attaining the reachable goal, which is a bronze. It also makes you a little bit more nervous ... so we have that to take in."

The men's relay team, the reigning world and two-time Olympic champs, is a clear favourite. Its preliminary goes Wednesday, with the final on the 25th.

Francois-Louis Tremblay, from Alma, Que., (500, 1,000) could also hit the podium.

Add it all up, and six more medals from the short trackers is not out of the question.