Hockey: Women’s Team Canada Strikes GOLD!
Women's Gold Medal Celebration
It’s late at night and I’m just getting back from the celebration of the Canada vs. USA Women’s Gold Medal Game in which Canada defeated the US 2-0. I’m not going to report on what went on in the game as I know all you good Canadian fans watched and cheered, because I could hear you all over this nation.
I’m going to share with you my experience from Molson’s Hockey House, which holds about 2,000 people and is located about four blocks west of Canada Hockey Place. If you wanted to get a seat, you would had to arrive about four hours before the game started and if you didn’t, like some of us that work, well we stood. We stood and we cheered and we partied!
There are three giant HD screens so, wherever you are standing or sitting you got to take in what was happening on the ice, on the slopes or at the rink. In waiting for the gold medal game to start, we were entertained by a Vancouver band called The Odds. The place already had a tonne of energy flowing through it like an electrical current. It was like being at a rock concert.
People as far as you could see dressed in Canadian jerseys, hats, scarf’s, you name, they wore it. We got to see the Olympic events that preceded the hockey game and some others during it also, like the courageous Joannie Rochette, whom skated her heart out, to win the bronze medal. When that was announced it was deafening in the place, as people were cheering so loud, you couldn’t hear the person next to you speak.
We got to find out about the men’s curling team that beat Sweden to advance to the gold medal game, the disappointment of the Men’s Aerials fifth place finish, but the night was all about the Gold Medal Game in Women’s Hockey. That’s what all the people came to see and they were pumped.
In my life time I have been to a lot of sporting events. Stanley Cup playoffs, Grey Cups, the celebration of the NASL’s Vancouver Whitecaps when they won the Soccer Bowl, just to name a few. But I have never witnessed the energy, loudness, spirit, joy, and emotions like I have felt in these Olympics.
I also know that I am a part of history that I will never see again in my lifetime and have been witness to medals for the first time in events that Canada has never won before.
The feeling in Molson’s Hockey House was like being at the game. The goals were greeted with roars that just rocked you back where you were standing. Boos rained down on the officiating when called against Canada. There were oohs and aahs as shots came close to the US goal, great passing plays or blocked shots.
You could just feel the whole crowd behind Canada, as they would break into “GO CANADA GO”, just like at the game and I mean loud. I mean, my ears are still ringing hours after the game has ended. As the minutes counted down to the end of the game, the crowd counted down with them and when the game ended, the noise erupted like the fireworks that have been going off each night of the Olympics.
The house DJ slapped on Queens – “We are the Champions”, shut down the feed from the hockey game for a few seconds, and the whole place broke out in chorus and belted the song out and the top of their voice. I’m trying to figure out where mine went, and if I will be able to talk tomorrow.
Oh, I forgot, it is tomorrow and I have to get ready for the Men’s Hockey final.
A special treat happened later that night at Molson’s Hockey House that was such a bonus. It was rather surreal. After the game, the Canadian Women’s team came down to the venue and was introduced by their coach, Mel Davidson. One by one they came out onto the stage to cheers that continued to grow as they formed a row.
What happened next was just pure magic.
I know my pictures didn’t turn out that great because of the lightning but trust me, the women were all on the stage, so I hope you get the idea. Everyone stood and screamed at the top of their voice, as the words to Oh Canada filled the room, and it just choked me up. The pride that one feels in this moment, is just so overwhelming, it’s hard to put it into words.
Canada's Women's Gold Medal Team on stage
I just known I am dam proud to be Canadian and that was a moment I will never forget! And I am so looking forward to tomorrow, not just to the Men’s Hockey game, but to the rest of the Olympic events, the crowds, the vibes and the special feelings, in the final three days.
I wish it would never end!
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Filed under: 2010 Winter Olympics
