I received an e-mail today with the link to Coca Cola's new ad for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. If you haven't watched it please check it out.
While watching this commercial it got me excited for the Olympics to begin and with that the Men's and Women's hockey. As a Canadian, I was raised on the fact that hockey is our game and there is no other nation in the world as passionate about this game as us Canucks. At the 2010 Vancouver olympics we could prove to everyone on our own ice that they are playing our game.
I want to share with you an article I wrote a few months back about Canada's mens hockey team's Gold Medal victory at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Canada's Golden Moment -
It had been fifty years since Canada's Mens Hockey Team had held the gold medal around their necks at the Winter Olympics. For a country which eat, sleeps, and bleeds hockey that was completely unacceptable. On February 24th, 2002 at the Salt Lake City games it was Canada's time to wear the gold again.
The gold medal was a game that everyone knew would be a classic battle for the ages. It was Canada versus their greatest rival; their neighbours down south, in their own backyard. With the inspiration of the Women's team finally beating the States just a few days earlier for the gold, a crowd which was overflowing with so many Canadians, and a lucky loonie just below centre ice; it looked like nothing was going to stop Canada from taking home the gold.
The game began slowly for the Canadians, as Tony Amonte opened the scoring with a breakaway goal to give the Americans the lead. That however, was short-lived for Canada awoke with two straight goals provided by Paul Kariya (with an unbelievable play by Mario Lemieux) and Jarome Iginla. The Americans tied it up again, but a wrist shot by Joe Sakic, which beat Mike Richter put Canada on top going into the third period. Canada was now twenty minutes from gold and did not look back. A goal by Jarome Iginla gave a two-goal lead. It was a breakaway goal at 18:39 by Joe Sakic which put the gold medal game on ice and cemented Canada's victory. The last-minute of the game was surreal, as you could hear thousands of Canadians in the Salt Lake arena all united singing our Nation's anthem. The Score Clock read 19:50...51...52...53...54...55...56...57...58...59...then finally 20:00. All of Canada counting with it, hearts pounding; waiting for that final second to make it official. And with that final horn sounding; Martin Brodeur jumped in the air with his hand straight up, before being rushed by the entire Canadian team.
At that moment all of Canada was celebrating this victory together. When our flag raised and our anthem began to play Canada united in voice; for we were atop the hockey world again and proved once more that hockey is Canada's sport.
- Jarrod D.A Gleadall
