Vancouver (AFP) – Canada is hoping to write its own Hollywood ending Sunday when they clash with the United States in an Olympic hockey final that has all the hallmarks of being a classic.
The highly-anticipated gold medal match will be arguably the biggest international game on Canadian soil since the 1972 Summit Series the hosts played against the Soviet Union.
The entire nation stopped 38 years ago to watch as the countries played eight games, including four matches in Canada before the teams headed overseas for another four games in the Soviet Union where Canada won the series.
Once again the nation has galvanized itself behind its beloved hockey team as Canada carves its way through the Vancouver tournament.
Unlike most of his players, Canadian coach Mike Babcock is old enough to remember the Summit Series and so understands the magnitude of Sunday’s match.
“It is a special, special thing,” said Babcock, who coached the Detroit Red Wings to a Stanley Cup championship in 2008.
“What I know from the teams that I coached that have won championships is that if you win together then you walk together forever.
“You remember those guys because you have done something special. Here is an opportunity of a lifetime and we want to make good on it.”
The win over the Russians in ’72 was Canada’s Miracle on Ice. Now Canada is hoping to become the first team to win the Olympics on home soil since the Americans thrilling 1980 Lake Placid triumph.
The Americans other Olympic gold medal also came on home soil in 1960 in Squaw Valley where they beat Canada 2-1.
Canada won its first Olympic gold medal in 50 years with a 5-2 win over the USA at the 2002 Salt Lake Games. The same teams met earlier in this tournament in the preliminary round with the Americans coming out on top 5-3.
“It is one game for the gold medal and we owe this team something because they got the better of us in the preliminary round,” said Canadian forward Brenden Morrow.
“They probably have something against us from 2002.
“So there are lots of little things within this game. At the end of the day it is two teams going for a gold medal and pouring their hearts out for it.”
Said Robyn Regehr, who played in the 2006 Turin Olympics for Canada and was asked to try out for the 2010 team, “If the Americans win they will probably make another movie about it so we want to see that doesn’t happen.”
Forward Ryan Getzlaf said the Americans were underdogs to begin with but have improved since they beat Canada a week ago.
“That was a wake-up call for us,” Getzlaf said. “A lot of people ruled (USA) out at the start. They came in and played really hard but we are going to be ready for it.”
Babcock, who lives in Detroit, tells his players to not lose sight of why they are here.
“There are lots of great memories over the years of hockey and winning,” he said.
“The Americans have the Miracle (on Ice). My kids watch that and they think it is great. I don’t think it is that great.
“Sports is a funny thing. You never know when you are going to get this chance again.”
Canadian forward Jonathan Toews said he was going to get ready for Sunday’s game by spending a relaxing evening in the athlete’s village.
“We are going to play the game of our lives,” said Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks. “There is no reason to go crazy mentally and overthink the game. I plan to be ready for the drop of the puck.”
US ready for Canada’s red-hot passion
Even American hockey players cannot wait to see the passionate atmosphere around their Olympic final showdown with Canada on Sunday, and they are going to be the targets of a hockey-mad nation’s wrath.
While some flag-waving US supporters will surely find their way among 18,000 in Canada Hockey Place, it’s the red-clad sea of Canada fans whose screams and yells help create an electric atmosphere in the arena – and beyond.
“The arena? Can you imagine what the streets will be like?” US forward David Backes said. “When you get to hockey in Canada, the passion has a whole other level to go. I expect a wonderful environment.”
US team general manager Brian Burke, who has the same job for the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs, sais he loves the intense pressure being in his role for a Canadian NHL club puts on himself and an organization.
“Hockey is not a sport in Canada. It’s a cult. It’s a religion,” Burke said. “Canadians view this as their game.”
That makes the thrill all the more exciting for some US players that have never been in such a situation.
“I don’t think anything can prepare you for that,” US defenceman Ryan Suter said. “It’s going to be a crazy atmosphere and a lot of fun.”
“I can’t wait to go out there on that ice and see what that’s going to be like,” US forward Ryan Callahan said.
US goaltender Ryan Miller, who made 42 saves in a 5-3 US preliminary round victory over Canada last week, has been a calming force for the Americans and takes the same attitude to the crowd that will be taunting him.
“It’s going to be a great atmosphere but it doesn’t change the game,” Miller said. “Skates. Puck. Ice. Hopefully I will lace on my skates the right way.”
Each side tries to claim an underdog role by making the other the favorite.
“You’re going to see a dogfight then,” Backes said. “We expect them to come out even harder than last time. We have to raise our game a notch or two.”
US defenceman Brian Rafalski sees the game as potentially life-changing for his young teammates.
“They have a chance to set a standard for themselves for the rest of their careers,” he said.
Martin Brodeur was the Canadian goaltender for the first US-Canada game but Roberto Luongo will be in the crease for the hosts on Sunday against a US team that has never trailed at Vancouver.
“He’s athletic and long and he takes away the bottom of the net,” Backes said of the biggest game in his career.
“(We need) players in his eyes, rebound goals and when we get those opportunities, get them to the top of the net.
“We have to be able to stifle the storm early even if they get the lead on us. Who stays on their game the longest is going to be key.”
Callahan sees the US key as putting pucks behind Canada’s defence and using team speed to out-chase the hosts while defenceman Ryan Suter is prepared to be patient if Canada comes out hard at the start.
“We have to play our game,” Suter said. “If things don’t go our way, we have to know that it has worked before and stay with it. They are going to come out flying. They will be better. We will have to be better.”
While the Americans come off a 6-1 semi-final rout of Finland, Canada had a tense 3-2 victory over Slovakia that went down to the last second.
“Hopefully Slovakia didn’t wake the sleeping giant,” Backes said.
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Vancouver 2010
