HPT Radio Live Streaming

HPT Radio
                                                                                                                                                                                               Powered by Primetime Radio Network

Live On Twitter



NEWS BY DIVISION

Like Our Facebook Page

Podcasts

FEATURES

FUTURES WATCH

COLUMNS

Picking up the pieces of USA-Canada Print
Columns
Written by Justin Bourne   
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 17:12
The reaction to Canada’s loss to the United States has not fallen from its rank as the No. 1 topic of Canadian conversations just yet.

I just answered a Facebook message that started like this:

“Couldn't help but chime in some thoughts.... I'm trying to move on, but have to get these out first.

"Best defenceman in order….”

And went on like that for another 800 words are so. “I’m trying to move on” is the most telling phrase about the Canadian psyche right now. To understate it, we’re really, really invested in our team, and that loss hurt like a bad breakup.

In the U.S., the win is still in the top five for Olympic conversation pieces – diluted only because of some journalists' insistence that U.S. NHLers beating Canadian NHLers in one game is somehow the equivalent of a modern-day Miracle on Ice.

In most cases, the follow-up to a sporting event like that would be perfect for the quote “hey, careful not to break an ankle jumping off the bandwagon.” But if Canadians believe in anything, it’s our hockey players.

While the American boys are set to cruise through Switzerland on Wednesday (and they are set to cruise; they already beat the Swiss once while playing poorly), the Canadians are looking at a long, dangerous trek to the finals, like Frodo trying to deliver The Ring.

Ze Germans, Russians and Swedes likely stand in the way of Canada delivering, before getting to what every single Canadian hockey fan wants – another crack at the Americans.

From the coverage of the game down here, I can tell you one thing – Americans DO NOT want to see the Canadians again. Not because Canada is so good that they’d definitely lose, but because they don’t want to give Canada the chance to take back what may be the greatest thing they accomplished at this Olympics – the right, for four years, to reference that one victory when talking about international hockey.

You get the impression that American hockey fans would rather lose to Switzerland in this round then take silver at the hands of the Canadians in the final.

The Canadian team (and fans) have one thing going for them – the Tiger Woods factor, pre life-tastrophe. People are intimidated by the general idea that they’re the best – and they wear red! With two minutes left in a 4-3 game, and a Canadian team bear-mauling an American squad hanging on for dear life, I wish we could’ve paused life and polled U.S. fans. I bet half of them thought Canada was going to score.

And truth be told, from the looks of the U.S. players' celebration of the Ryan Kesler goal, it looked like they thought they were eventually going to get scored on, too. The celebration seemed to be as much shock and surprise as jubilation and euphoria.

Going forward, the Canadians and Americans have to do exactly that – go forward. The American boys have a legitimately talented team, and can’t feel like winning a round-robin game – even one as big as beating the Canadians for the one seed – is a good enough accomplishment. In the end, the goal is the gold, and the U.S. squad is in a better position than anyone to capitalize.

Likewise, the Canadians cannot play what-ifs and feel defeated. The reality for them is, they played a pretty nice game against the Americans, and ran into a hot 'tender while their own struggled. Their most important, short-term mission is this: to thump up the Germans in the first period, and rest some of their studs. Lord knows they’re gonna need ‘em all to beat Russia.

So strap in, hockey fans. This one ain’t over yet. Because if the stars align, you never know – we might get treated to round two.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/hide comments

Write comment

smaller | bigger
security image
Write the displayed characters

busy
Last Updated on Tuesday, March 02, 2010 11:08