Who is more melancholy than a Swede? Lets ratchet it up a bit. A Swedish woman. OK, how about a collection of Swedish women who have just had their Olympic medal dreams ripped out of their hearts? After being vanquished in overtime Thursday, with the winning goal coming off the stick of their pillar-of-strength Captain Erika Holtz, Team Sweden crawled back to their locker room in a collective puddle of tears. Shattered, suffocating in sobs, inconsolable. Finally, some words from their coach, the only human able to speak. "You must all go to the mixed zone." Yes, the International Federation was insisting, get on that media conveyor belt and walk through every accredited rights-holding member of the media.
It was Bergman meets Night of the Living Dead meets Harry Potter and the Dementor's Kiss. The eyes of these poor souls were those of a frat boy who had just been making love to his smoking bong for several hours. Continuing the drug theme, their faces were ashen as heroin abusers. All the joy of sport and Olympic medals was instantly sucked out of the mixed zone, as a parade of zombies walked past. You could feel the death-like energy (or lack thereof) in this ghastly walk-by. Holst, the tower of strength throughout the tournament, stopped to talk to the Olympic News Channel. "You did everything right, back checking all the way to the goal line. There is an expression, 'no good deed goes unpunished'. Can you please take us through that final play?" the reporter asked as sensitively as he could. Holtz looked stymied, and managed a few words as the tears began leaking involuntarily. "No, I can't," she sobbed. Interview over, she resumed her death march.
The frail but marvelously skilled Elin Holmlov, stopped. Her eyes have an amazing faraway gaze of gray and blue, an ideal film subject for Bergman. They are the eyes of a gray wolf, seeing the world with much grander perception than a mere human. This afternoon they are ringed with rich, red circles. She states that being part of the best game of the tournament to date, a tournament desperate for competition, was small consolation. End of interview, she glided on with the other dementors. Death of spirit, the death of joy, had invaded the mixed zone. It lingered uncomfortably, surrounding every journalist. This toy department of life can be a cruel business. fortunately, the human spirit nearly always rekindles, but certainly not during that awful, ugly walk through the mixed zone.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Yale and the Olympic Ideal
Natalia Babonyova, undersized Slovak forward with a propensity for gritty play, is a Yale graduate. She was living in Whitby Ontario when she learned that the goalie Zuzanna Tomcikova had carried the Slovak women;s team on her back through the vigorous qualifying rounds.
Babyonova batttled for 50 minutes against Russia on Saturday Night, before eventually falling 4-2. Despite being 0-4 in the tourney, she is grateful for every second in Vancouver. "You see these crowds salute us after every game, it's all you can do to keep from crying, " she said post game. She adores Zuzanna, and will fight to the end to avoid last place when they China in their finale, savoring every precious Olympic second.
Babyonova batttled for 50 minutes against Russia on Saturday Night, before eventually falling 4-2. Despite being 0-4 in the tourney, she is grateful for every second in Vancouver. "You see these crowds salute us after every game, it's all you can do to keep from crying, " she said post game. She adores Zuzanna, and will fight to the end to avoid last place when they China in their finale, savoring every precious Olympic second.
bits, pieces and Belarus!!!
First time, long time John from Stamford pointed out that Olygirls might have been flirting with political incorrectness when blog spouted the following "The Swedes played like, well, Swedes." I believe that was in reference to their 13-1 annihilation at the hands of the Canadian juggernaut. for the record, two of the Tre Kronor put up some resistance: 1) The relentless Elin Holmlov, who danced and dangled and skittered for 60 minutes. She ended up a -1 in a 13-1 demolition. I didn't think that was mathematically possible. The other Scandinavian showing spine was Katarina Timglass, a Nordic disturber, in the most complimentary sense of the word. In the third period, after one goalie change, 12 pucks fished out of her own net, and countless gratuitious whacks at the Swedish goalie of the moment by the host Canucks, she did something very unSwedish (unless you consider Ulf Samuelsson a typical Swede), she punched an opponent. CTV cameras caught Timglass throwing a straight right (glove on) to the grill of Canuck forward Hailey Irwin. And Hailey didn't like it, and made a face. When you're down a dozen goals, maybe it was time to push back, and the lovely Katarina, as Swedish looking as they come, complete with blonde hair and perfect pale skin, threw a chopping right. The video has made the rounds in Canuckistan (thanks to NYTimes Stu Hackel for that wonderful moniker), and it looks like someone spent a couple of nights in the animation house creating it, but there it's been for all to see, a Swede swatting a Canadian. This may not be a good sign for the Lady Yankee pucksters, who face SWE in the semifinals on Monday. A sleepy giant has been rousted, the same giant who slayed USA in Torino in hockey's greatest upset. USA Captains Angela Ruggiero (A) and Natalie Darwitz (C) both conceded that they were looking to the gold medal game during the Torino semis. Darwitz stepped up to the mic today and said flat out, "We know that no one's handing out any gold medals on (semifinal) Monday."
Quick snippet from the loser's bracket. Iya Gabrilova, the Russian playmaking forward who reminds Olygirls of Valery Kamensky, may have a future in college hockey after all, only not below the 49th parallel. She was an offensive star at Minnesota Duluth for controversial coach Shannon Miller, but in February of her first year, a rival coach sniffed around and found some damning evidence that they shared with the Feds. Turned out that Iya had played on a Russian touring team that payed some of their players, though not Iya. Poor thing got busted in February of what turned out to be an NCAA title year (2008), and has been playing in a Duluth beer league ever since. CTV reporter Lisa Bowes put out a call to former Team Canada star Danielle Goyette who coaches University of Calgary, who is now giving the Sovietzky Sniper a look via the internet. Canadian Universities dont play by the same archaic rules as the NC$$. the US Feds have declared Gabrilova a "Contaminated" player by rubbing shoulders in the locker room with gals who took rubles. Gabrilova had two goals in their 4-2 win over Slovakia, with a splendid opportunity for a hat trick, but offensive greed is not one of her skill sets. she dished to a linemate who blew the shot. "I prefer to pass than shoot," said the hard-to-hate Gabrilova.
Finally, Belarus. They play in Jerseys with Christmas colors of green and red, they were the last team to qualifyt for the men's tourney, and their coaches wear warmup outfits that would embarrass Al Sharpton's entourage. Olygirls was approached by Blue Moon Restaurant owner (E. 76th) with news of 4 tickets to the Germany-Belarus game in January. It was assumed to be a punchline of a joke, Germany-Belarus tickets for sale, over $100. per, who's kidding who? Through crazy confluence, I made the deal, sold all 4 to a family from Washington who had previously been shut out by the lottery system. Now the Belarus craze is catching on here in Vanc, the big paper in town had a feature today, and yours truly interviewed captain Ruslan Salei after they gave Sweden all they could handle on Friday. He's pumped, I'm pumped, the city is pumped, and they were riding prime time on TSN getting first rate hockey coverage as they exchanged 4 goals with the Father Land tonight (Saturday, Hockey night, in Canada), as they emerged with an emotional, sensational 5-3 victory. This sport, this town, these Games, Canadian rooting sentiments, aren't easy to predict. So here's a toast of Stoly to that crazy fractured Republic, white Russia, AKA BELARUS! May they someday beat the Russians themselves.
Quick snippet from the loser's bracket. Iya Gabrilova, the Russian playmaking forward who reminds Olygirls of Valery Kamensky, may have a future in college hockey after all, only not below the 49th parallel. She was an offensive star at Minnesota Duluth for controversial coach Shannon Miller, but in February of her first year, a rival coach sniffed around and found some damning evidence that they shared with the Feds. Turned out that Iya had played on a Russian touring team that payed some of their players, though not Iya. Poor thing got busted in February of what turned out to be an NCAA title year (2008), and has been playing in a Duluth beer league ever since. CTV reporter Lisa Bowes put out a call to former Team Canada star Danielle Goyette who coaches University of Calgary, who is now giving the Sovietzky Sniper a look via the internet. Canadian Universities dont play by the same archaic rules as the NC$$. the US Feds have declared Gabrilova a "Contaminated" player by rubbing shoulders in the locker room with gals who took rubles. Gabrilova had two goals in their 4-2 win over Slovakia, with a splendid opportunity for a hat trick, but offensive greed is not one of her skill sets. she dished to a linemate who blew the shot. "I prefer to pass than shoot," said the hard-to-hate Gabrilova.
Finally, Belarus. They play in Jerseys with Christmas colors of green and red, they were the last team to qualifyt for the men's tourney, and their coaches wear warmup outfits that would embarrass Al Sharpton's entourage. Olygirls was approached by Blue Moon Restaurant owner (E. 76th) with news of 4 tickets to the Germany-Belarus game in January. It was assumed to be a punchline of a joke, Germany-Belarus tickets for sale, over $100. per, who's kidding who? Through crazy confluence, I made the deal, sold all 4 to a family from Washington who had previously been shut out by the lottery system. Now the Belarus craze is catching on here in Vanc, the big paper in town had a feature today, and yours truly interviewed captain Ruslan Salei after they gave Sweden all they could handle on Friday. He's pumped, I'm pumped, the city is pumped, and they were riding prime time on TSN getting first rate hockey coverage as they exchanged 4 goals with the Father Land tonight (Saturday, Hockey night, in Canada), as they emerged with an emotional, sensational 5-3 victory. This sport, this town, these Games, Canadian rooting sentiments, aren't easy to predict. So here's a toast of Stoly to that crazy fractured Republic, white Russia, AKA BELARUS! May they someday beat the Russians themselves.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
sport in crisis
It was a rematch of the 2006 Gold Medal game, Canada versus Sweden, two proud nations, both undefeated in their bracket, looking for a top seeding in the medal round. It was brutal. Sweden's Kim Martin, one of the sports most talented goalie's and whose sunny disposition makes her the most popular, was bludgeoned for 10 goals before being replaced. It was way past Globetrotters versus Washington wizards, it was much more like Christians and Lions. Canada's coach Melody Davidson described her forwards as "hungry". They swarmed the Sweden net like angry mad dogs, ravenous in their pursuit of goals, and the Swedes acted like, well, Swedes, a tad too mellow for the assault that resulted in a 5-goal first period and a SEVEN goal second. Waiting out a 15 minute intermission in a 12-0 game between two undefeated teams got the writers typing early editorial copy, none of it good for the sport.
In the press conference after the game, both coaches tried to defend their sport, but Canada's paper of record sliced them both up. "How long can this be considered an Olympic sport?" was the prevailing question. Sweden's Peter Elander suggested that the IIHF or the IOC start funding the world's national governing bodies so that more teams can centralize than USA and Canada. Fat chance. Melody Davidson reminded the press that Canada's men's team smoked Norway 8-0, and where were the critics? It didn't stand up.
the most poignant remark was from Davidson, saying that her girls in the dressing room were "conflicted". They knew that running up the score was bad for the sport, but they also were driven athletes that weren't about to take the pedal off the medal because of their drive to win gold. Athletes first, ambassadors second. 12 spectacular forwards, all deserving of power play minutes, all in supreme physical shape, all passionately driven for a golden rout of every opponent, all terrified that the U.S. will mark them "Losers" in the hockey history books. (I suspect those books sell best in Canada). So this team of well-rounded best and brightest, two wonderful moms and bushels of graduate degrees,whose Captain who proudly read the athlete's oath at the opening ceremonies, is jeopardizing their sport's Olympic future with every blowout. that is why they are conflicted. and rightfully so.
Solution: keep 8 teams. Top two go into a special bracket. round robin divisions are now 3 teams instead of 4, and they all play 2 games to find a single team to advance. Two advancing teams play off to yield one "Sub-Champ." Meanwhile, the super teams (USA and Canada for time being) play a best of three to determine who gets a bye. Loser of the best of three must face the winner of the sub pool. That winner faces the team with the Bye for the Gold Medal.
Nations will play nearly identical amount of games as they currently do, with no ugly blowouts other than one game between sub champs and elite two.
Readers, feel free to offer a better solution. In the meantime I'll be pitching this to Jen at the IIHF.
In the press conference after the game, both coaches tried to defend their sport, but Canada's paper of record sliced them both up. "How long can this be considered an Olympic sport?" was the prevailing question. Sweden's Peter Elander suggested that the IIHF or the IOC start funding the world's national governing bodies so that more teams can centralize than USA and Canada. Fat chance. Melody Davidson reminded the press that Canada's men's team smoked Norway 8-0, and where were the critics? It didn't stand up.
the most poignant remark was from Davidson, saying that her girls in the dressing room were "conflicted". They knew that running up the score was bad for the sport, but they also were driven athletes that weren't about to take the pedal off the medal because of their drive to win gold. Athletes first, ambassadors second. 12 spectacular forwards, all deserving of power play minutes, all in supreme physical shape, all passionately driven for a golden rout of every opponent, all terrified that the U.S. will mark them "Losers" in the hockey history books. (I suspect those books sell best in Canada). So this team of well-rounded best and brightest, two wonderful moms and bushels of graduate degrees,whose Captain who proudly read the athlete's oath at the opening ceremonies, is jeopardizing their sport's Olympic future with every blowout. that is why they are conflicted. and rightfully so.
Solution: keep 8 teams. Top two go into a special bracket. round robin divisions are now 3 teams instead of 4, and they all play 2 games to find a single team to advance. Two advancing teams play off to yield one "Sub-Champ." Meanwhile, the super teams (USA and Canada for time being) play a best of three to determine who gets a bye. Loser of the best of three must face the winner of the sub pool. That winner faces the team with the Bye for the Gold Medal.
Nations will play nearly identical amount of games as they currently do, with no ugly blowouts other than one game between sub champs and elite two.
Readers, feel free to offer a better solution. In the meantime I'll be pitching this to Jen at the IIHF.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
the sport could use a few more miracles
USA's drubbing of Russia, I stopped counting after the first dozen, was bad theater, and terrible for the sport. Fans were imploring Russia to mount an attack, but ever since their medal hopes were dashed by Finland, Mother Russia had departed Vancouver mentally. Players put the blame on their 16 yr old goalie, who gave up 10 before departing. It was ugly, and horrible for the sport. USA fans waiving flags during goals 13 and 14 seemed idiotic, but they paid over $100 per seat so who are we to judge? Former Canadian captain and CTV commentator thought it was "awful", and IIHF rep Jen Weideke feared that the sport will be under attack.
HOWEVER, three hours later the gritty and pluck Chinese women took Finland to the brink, surrendering an early lead but battling the Finns for 3 hours before falling 2-1. No fan left unhappy. If there is to be a team that actually makes strides to challenge the big 4 in the next generation, maybe it is the Chinese, who have hired a Finnish coach to push them along. They spent 11 months together prior to these Games and the work is paying off.
HOWEVER, three hours later the gritty and pluck Chinese women took Finland to the brink, surrendering an early lead but battling the Finns for 3 hours before falling 2-1. No fan left unhappy. If there is to be a team that actually makes strides to challenge the big 4 in the next generation, maybe it is the Chinese, who have hired a Finnish coach to push them along. They spent 11 months together prior to these Games and the work is paying off.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Chu-ee New Years
the stars were in line for Julie Chu in Vancouver Sunday. She was her usual energetic self, a star in both ends of the rink in USA's 11-1 opening game victory over China. Julie happens to be 3/4 Chinese, and is a bit of a goddess to the Chinese players, who love having their picture taken with her. It was also the first day of Chinese New Year, a two week celebration that is bigger than the Olympics in Vancouver's Chinatown. Suddenly Julie, a self-proclaimed nerd among her tragically hip teammates, was the absolute center of global media attention. The throngs of reporters in the UBC Thunderbird Arena mixed zone all needed Julie's wisdom and cultural observations post game. NBC interviewed her during the intermission and post game, along with an intermission feature on her Dad strolling the streets on Chinatown. Julie quoted both of the only two Chinese phrases she knows for Chinese national TV, including Happy New Year. They were delighted. She accommodated the Olympic News Channel, Swedish TV, CTV in Canada, and a slew of print journalists at the end of the mixed zone conveyor belt. She did it all with a brilliant smile and high energy enthusiasm. She is a Harvard-educated spokesperson selling her sport globally.
Her sport is a collection of the best and brightest, flooded with women stretching the boundaries of their potential, accumulating graduate degrees, many coming to U.S. Universities and learning English along the way, all spreading the gospel about their sport. Julie has already helped coach Minnesota - Duluth to an NCAA title (at the expense of current Olympic coach Mark Johnson's Wisconsin Badgers), and would be a supreme choice to take over the Chinese national team coaching ranks once she stops playing. It would be a fitting choice for women's hockey's best ambassador.
Her sport is a collection of the best and brightest, flooded with women stretching the boundaries of their potential, accumulating graduate degrees, many coming to U.S. Universities and learning English along the way, all spreading the gospel about their sport. Julie has already helped coach Minnesota - Duluth to an NCAA title (at the expense of current Olympic coach Mark Johnson's Wisconsin Badgers), and would be a supreme choice to take over the Chinese national team coaching ranks once she stops playing. It would be a fitting choice for women's hockey's best ambassador.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Pre-tourney practice bits
I interviewed the superb trio of Karvinen, Tuominen and Tikkinen together and they were delightful. Saara Touminen is such a special person. We had all three describe their stre;gths, Tikkanen said she was "a sniper" which was hilarious.
I worry a bit for Canada coach Melody Davidson. Twice she stuck her head into the runway to see USA's first practice. I think she was checking out USA super young force Hilary Knight. Knight is moving well and her attitude is top notch after 3 weeks on the shelf. I don't know if she has her timing back, but man what a shot.
There was a drill where two players sprint for a puck on the center ice dot on the whistle from opposite blue lines. It was Chu (fittest player in the world?) against the 30 something Ruggiero. I saw Ruggiero will her fast-twitch muscles to jam and grind the ice, and she was clearly struggling. She beat Chu by half a step and got possession and created a scoring chance. What a friggin athlete. The Americans are SO loose. they've lost 7 straight to the canucks and their superb young forward has been out for 3 weeks and they're having SO MUCH FUN, reveling in their underdog status.
Captain Canada Hayley Wickenheiser looks SO comfortable wearing the C. She deflects the pressure like a bit of a super hero. In essence she is. She and Ruggiero battle like caged animals in the corners, a great game within the game scenario. Today was Picture day and Team Canada unveiled their new jerseys with a dynamite crest. the girls had a ton of fun taking pictures of each other. Mel wouldn't smile in the team pic. She has 3 goalies to choose from, and 4 lines that want PP minutes, and has developed a nasty cold sore. She admits that it's a struggle to manage the minutes because her forwards go 12 deep. It's only day 2 of practice.
Former Duluth FW Iya Gavrilova has been great to speak with, but still seems a bit pained by having had to leave the UMD squad in 2008. She was the only one willing to speak to the media after two Russian teammates got hurt in practice, including their starting goalie. She also admits that the opener against Finland is for a medal. Tough tourney.
4-time Olymmpic defenseman Emma Laaksonen is a focused, tough cookie, someone I wouldn't want to compete with on any level, even Scrabble. Too bad there isn't more depth in this tourney.
Had some great responses from Oulette and Chu about teaming up to Coach Duluth in 2008. Super ambassadors.
I worry a bit for Canada coach Melody Davidson. Twice she stuck her head into the runway to see USA's first practice. I think she was checking out USA super young force Hilary Knight. Knight is moving well and her attitude is top notch after 3 weeks on the shelf. I don't know if she has her timing back, but man what a shot.
There was a drill where two players sprint for a puck on the center ice dot on the whistle from opposite blue lines. It was Chu (fittest player in the world?) against the 30 something Ruggiero. I saw Ruggiero will her fast-twitch muscles to jam and grind the ice, and she was clearly struggling. She beat Chu by half a step and got possession and created a scoring chance. What a friggin athlete. The Americans are SO loose. they've lost 7 straight to the canucks and their superb young forward has been out for 3 weeks and they're having SO MUCH FUN, reveling in their underdog status.
Captain Canada Hayley Wickenheiser looks SO comfortable wearing the C. She deflects the pressure like a bit of a super hero. In essence she is. She and Ruggiero battle like caged animals in the corners, a great game within the game scenario. Today was Picture day and Team Canada unveiled their new jerseys with a dynamite crest. the girls had a ton of fun taking pictures of each other. Mel wouldn't smile in the team pic. She has 3 goalies to choose from, and 4 lines that want PP minutes, and has developed a nasty cold sore. She admits that it's a struggle to manage the minutes because her forwards go 12 deep. It's only day 2 of practice.
Former Duluth FW Iya Gavrilova has been great to speak with, but still seems a bit pained by having had to leave the UMD squad in 2008. She was the only one willing to speak to the media after two Russian teammates got hurt in practice, including their starting goalie. She also admits that the opener against Finland is for a medal. Tough tourney.
4-time Olymmpic defenseman Emma Laaksonen is a focused, tough cookie, someone I wouldn't want to compete with on any level, even Scrabble. Too bad there isn't more depth in this tourney.
Had some great responses from Oulette and Chu about teaming up to Coach Duluth in 2008. Super ambassadors.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
oh Zuzana
She's 19 and is carrying her hockey nation. Zuzana Tomlikova is the goalie for Slovakia, a nation that has qualified for its first Olympics in women's hockey. Zuzana is working on her English, and ventured into her mixed zone interview without a translator. She is now a sophomore at Division I Bemidji State of the powerful WCHA conference, facing the Big 3 of Wisco, Minnesota and Duluth on a regular basis. Those schools have had a stranglehold on the last 10 NCAA championships.
As a freshman, Tomlikova took two lengthy hockey absences to play for Slovakia in Olympic qualifying tournaments. She passed her courses, learned English, secured a starting spot at Bemidji, and oh, got Slovakia into the Olympics.
"We you great in those quali tourneys?" she was asked.
"Not great, but we won." She later admitted that she had two shutouts along the way.
Duluth coach Shannon Miller calls her one of the most athletic goalies she has ever seen, and she coaches the legendary Kim Martin.
Tomlikova's goals for The Winter Games?
"I'm just hoping we don't finish last."
Slovakia opens the Olympics in the first women's game of the tournament, in front of 19,000 fans against defending gold medalist Canada on Saturday.
another female athlete to root for in Vancouver.
As a freshman, Tomlikova took two lengthy hockey absences to play for Slovakia in Olympic qualifying tournaments. She passed her courses, learned English, secured a starting spot at Bemidji, and oh, got Slovakia into the Olympics.
"We you great in those quali tourneys?" she was asked.
"Not great, but we won." She later admitted that she had two shutouts along the way.
Duluth coach Shannon Miller calls her one of the most athletic goalies she has ever seen, and she coaches the legendary Kim Martin.
Tomlikova's goals for The Winter Games?
"I'm just hoping we don't finish last."
Slovakia opens the Olympics in the first women's game of the tournament, in front of 19,000 fans against defending gold medalist Canada on Saturday.
another female athlete to root for in Vancouver.
Friday, February 5, 2010
All the Single Ladies! U.S. girls dance on Finland
First, the mundane.
A number of significant things emerged from USA's 5-1 wipeout of the Finns last night in C. Springs: 1) Finnish goalie Nora Raty is NOT in the heads of the American shooters. Not only did they pour in 5 goals on the 20 year old Olympic veteran, but forward Kelli Stack's sensational deke on her to open the scoring may have dented Raty's prodigious confidence; 2) Team USA is unified behind coach Johnson at least in terms of staying on message; in every interview you could here the coach's lament about the unacceptable amount of penalties (8 minors, 5 in the first period); and 3) this is a team that is having a TON of fun. The lasting images from this national telecast was that of Erika Lawler doing a full dance rendition of Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies" taped prior to warmups. Without a hint of inhibition, she knocked it out of the park. The 5' dynamo rocked and gyrated unabashedly for the NHL network cameraman, safely surrounded by her adoring teammates. The network aired the footage in both of its intermissions, used it going to commercial and during its final video rollout. Myths were dispelled. Any preconceptions of women's hockey being played by camera unfriendly, macho cavewomen dripping in sweat was shattered by her pre-game performance. And when she tallied early in the third period, her teammates were nearly as delighted as she was and the route was on. But there was more. Kelli Stack took off her helmet for an interview and suddenly the hockey world had another brilliant smile to enjoy along with her supreme stickwork skills. She got lots of extra playing time due to star Hilary Knight's "lower body" injury, and made the most of it, earning player of the game honors. When she rocketed a shot off the crossbar that careened 20 feet straight up in the air, her reaction was priceless--agony and hilarity.
This team is loose, they're on message with their coach, and they are incredibly happy. They have all stated how they would be peaking in February. Thanks to a torturous training regimen imposed by Teena Murray (the girls broke down in tears pushing 70 pound sleds last month) they are in peak physical shape, and can just relax and play. "Now they can just be athletes," was how commentator Jim Rich paraphrased coach Johnson.
Does this mean they will beat Canada? Impossible to say, almost certainly not without a healthy Knight. HOWEVER, from the intangible category, USA's evident joy of life can only be a good thing for the Americans. Their free and easy loving attitude could represent a potentially significant edge if Canada feels pressure defending gold on home soil. Every reader knows how USA was affected by that scenario in SLC, and this pressure will be significantly greater. Canada still has a slight edge in depth and speed and team defense, but only slight. They are the hunted, USA is the hunter. Canada has a lead in a race approaching its final turn, but their chief rival is fresh and happy and breathing down their outside shoulder. Canada has won their last 6 exhibitions against the USA. The Yanks couldn't be happier. This might be fun.
A number of significant things emerged from USA's 5-1 wipeout of the Finns last night in C. Springs: 1) Finnish goalie Nora Raty is NOT in the heads of the American shooters. Not only did they pour in 5 goals on the 20 year old Olympic veteran, but forward Kelli Stack's sensational deke on her to open the scoring may have dented Raty's prodigious confidence; 2) Team USA is unified behind coach Johnson at least in terms of staying on message; in every interview you could here the coach's lament about the unacceptable amount of penalties (8 minors, 5 in the first period); and 3) this is a team that is having a TON of fun. The lasting images from this national telecast was that of Erika Lawler doing a full dance rendition of Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies" taped prior to warmups. Without a hint of inhibition, she knocked it out of the park. The 5' dynamo rocked and gyrated unabashedly for the NHL network cameraman, safely surrounded by her adoring teammates. The network aired the footage in both of its intermissions, used it going to commercial and during its final video rollout. Myths were dispelled. Any preconceptions of women's hockey being played by camera unfriendly, macho cavewomen dripping in sweat was shattered by her pre-game performance. And when she tallied early in the third period, her teammates were nearly as delighted as she was and the route was on. But there was more. Kelli Stack took off her helmet for an interview and suddenly the hockey world had another brilliant smile to enjoy along with her supreme stickwork skills. She got lots of extra playing time due to star Hilary Knight's "lower body" injury, and made the most of it, earning player of the game honors. When she rocketed a shot off the crossbar that careened 20 feet straight up in the air, her reaction was priceless--agony and hilarity.
This team is loose, they're on message with their coach, and they are incredibly happy. They have all stated how they would be peaking in February. Thanks to a torturous training regimen imposed by Teena Murray (the girls broke down in tears pushing 70 pound sleds last month) they are in peak physical shape, and can just relax and play. "Now they can just be athletes," was how commentator Jim Rich paraphrased coach Johnson.
Does this mean they will beat Canada? Impossible to say, almost certainly not without a healthy Knight. HOWEVER, from the intangible category, USA's evident joy of life can only be a good thing for the Americans. Their free and easy loving attitude could represent a potentially significant edge if Canada feels pressure defending gold on home soil. Every reader knows how USA was affected by that scenario in SLC, and this pressure will be significantly greater. Canada still has a slight edge in depth and speed and team defense, but only slight. They are the hunted, USA is the hunter. Canada has a lead in a race approaching its final turn, but their chief rival is fresh and happy and breathing down their outside shoulder. Canada has won their last 6 exhibitions against the USA. The Yanks couldn't be happier. This might be fun.
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