Every four years I’m reminded why even though I didn’t grow up in a hockey town and as a big fan of the game, that international hockey is one of the best sports in the world played by some of the best and toughest athletes anywhere.
The game between Canada and the USA a few nights ago was a perfect example of what makes sports great. Passion and great play on the ice and passion in the stands. It was also a great example of why the international game is better.
The international game has bigger ice to skate on, although in Vancouver and North America they’re on an NHL sized rink. It has physical play, but without the fights and other subtle rule differences that make the game more fluid and more enjoyable to watch. It’s what the NHL should be.
Just a couple of days ago the world nearly came to an end for Canada when they fell to the US, but the Canadians have rebounded and beaten Germany and then Wednesday night exploding for four first period goals on their way to a crushing 7-3 defeat of Russia. Their first win over the Soviets in 50 years at the Olympics.
When Rick Nash made it 3-0 in the opening period, you could almost hear the roof get blown off the arena. If Canada plays with the passion and agressiveness they played with in this game, they’ll be hard to beat for the gold, but the US has beaten them once already and are one game away from a possible gold medal rematch.
If you thought the first game had the attention of much of North America, wait and see what happens if they play again for gold. There won’t be a TV in Canada that isn’t tuned the ice of Vancouver, eh?
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