The final game between Team USA and Team Canada was played by two extremely talented and patriotic teams that wanted nothing more than a victory for their country. Both clubs gave all they had. It was one of the best I have watched over the past 60 to 70 years and for me as exciting as the final game in 1972 between Canada and the USSR. Unfortunately, there can only be one winner and thankfully Canada prevailed with the overtime victory.
All four teams played and represented their nations well throughout the competition. I was glad that no one team got blown out or looked out of place.
There were a few things that I didn't care to see during the competition:
- Booing another nation's anthem is not acceptable. Anyone that participated in this disrespectful manner should feel ashamed.
- The juvenile start of the first game between Canada and the U.S. is not something that belongs in a competition with the world's best players involved. These athletes are professionals and it sent (in my opinion) the wrong message to the spectators and viewing audience. If there was something positive that came out of this, it was that the individual that started it got put into his place. I was extremely disappointed that experts doing the analysis of the games enjoyed it so much and thought it really added something to the competition. In watching some of these experts throughout the seasons I've often questioned what some of them bring in terms of "feel for the game and hockey knowledge" to the table. That may explain why they talk in cliches.
- My biggest disappointment was Canada's choice of honorary captain. Team USA's honorary captain came out wearing a Team USA jersey. Our honorary captain, Wayne Gretzky, not only entered the ice surface from Team USA's box, but he gave a thumbs up to the U.S. players on their bench and wore a dark coloured suit that didn't even have a Canadian lapel pin. He didn't appear to acknowledge our team. Where was his Team Canada jersey? It would have been interesting to know how the members of Team Canada felt about this. Looks like he showed his true colours. If he wants to be an American and not have the courage to wear our colours, he should have declined this role and we could have been represented by a real Honorary Captain such as Canada's real "Captain Canada," Ryan Smith.
- Canada came away with a deserved victory, especially since we have seemed to have recently lost our good neighbour relationship with the south and are getting daily childish bullying comments from their President. Looks like the bully doesn't always come out on top.
It is unfortunate that a large number of Canadians will wind up losing respect for Wayne Gretzky since he was such a hero to so many for so long.
Wally Popik, St. Albert
