Enjoy the game winning goal scored by John Carlson. I swear my heart was in my throat during the overtime until the game winning goal, then I had tears of joy in my eyes. Yes, I did the dance again.
This win means so much for American hockey; it’s one of them defining moments in history like the 1980 Olympic team win in Lake Placid. The Canadians were the over whelming favorites to win the gold medal game and what makes this win more significant is team USA beat the Canadians on their turf. What makes it even more specials is after listening to their fans boo our players for almost two weeks our guys get to walk out of Canada carrying the gold.
Fighting Sioux forward Danny Kristo leads team USA [in a song]
I wouldn't really compare this to the Miracle on Ice. That happened at the height of the Cold War and is one of the "battles" that turned the tide in the West's favor in the breakdown of the Soviet Union and helped change/shape our current world, I don't see this game changing the world forever.
ReplyDeleteBut, beating the Canadians is a sweet hockey victory over a hockey mad country though.
Only a few dedicated puck fans even knew this event was taking place. I watched it in an "Old Chicago" and they wouldn't have shown it if I hadn't begged them and promised to buy lots of food and drink.
ReplyDeleteNonetheless, it was a fantastic result to the tournament that included some great games.
I think based on how bad the USA had done against Canada (they lost 6 in a row) that this win is pretty big.
ReplyDeleteWhat Americans don't realize is how important junior hockey is in Canada. There are only 5 NHL teams in the country and college hockey is unimportant but every town of any consequence has a junior team. The Canadian Hockey League, made up of the most elite junior teams in the country, is the true focus of athletic activity there. The Memorial Cup, the national junior championship tournament, held this year in Brandon, MB, will be as important an event as the Winter Olympics to many Canadians.
ReplyDeletePC: There are actually 6 NHL teams in Canada unless you aren't counting the local Edmonton Oilers (wouldn't blame you... they're struggling this year).
ReplyDeleteOn paper it might appear like a significant upset but those of us who follow this level of hockey closely knew very early on in this tournament that the Americans were for real and had a legitimate chance of winning it all. By game time, the final game was a coin toss... no one up here considered Canada to be huge favorites.
It's a great win for USA, terrific that they will host next year as defending champs (like 2005 in ND).
USA deserved the win. I predicted a 4th place finish and am more than happy to say I underestimated Dean Balise and the team he assmebled.
They weren't the best on paper that USA has sent to the WJC the last few years but they were the best team and that clearly made the difference. And, like the coach said, the pre-tournament training camp (like Canada) and playing a "Canadian style of hockey" proved to be a winning formula.
Can't help but notice it was also the highest CHL content team the USA has ever sent to the WJC too...
;-)