USA - Canada

Here's a running account of taking in the USA - Canada hockey game live from hockey universe headquarters, Vancouver. Or a I described it on m facebook, a battle between a country who doesn't care about hokey with the one who does more than anything.

3:45 pm - before leaving my hotel I don my team USA hat. I refrain from calling it a toque. There will be no canadian lingo today.

4:01 - I bounce through Yaletown as a sea of canadians in red and white walk past. I thank my lucky stars that this passive country shares nothing in common with my favorite soccer club, Chelsea. If so I could expect to be pummeled for my hat.

4:05 - I arrive outside Yaletown brewery, a cool hangout that resembles my local joint, The Ram, back home. They are charging a $20 cover for the bar so I sneak in. How American.

4:18 - I finish my count and realize I'm outnumbered 735 to 4. I give the other Americans a nod (a California couple and their son) and order a wheat beer for courage.

4:24 - the tv shows the finish to the women's speed skating. Canada has the favorite. The crowd goes wild. Free thundersticks create a deafening noise. Canada gets silver. The crowd sighs. Business as usual.

4:25 - hefeweizen #2

4:34 - Just minutes before the puck drops, text messages roll in. Jake wonders if my house is divided. Chris reminds me of the $100 bet we made under the influence of other hefeweizen. The tension grows.

4:39 - a non-descript 50 year old jumps on a table and reminds the crowd "6 minutes! 6 minutes!" I must be in Canada.

4:45 - You gotta love Canada. No pre-game fireworks. No lazer light shows or starting line-ups. The coverage begins just moments before the game starts with just a quick "welcome to GM Place" and the game starts. Here we go.

4:46 - Just :43 seconds into the game, the US scores!!! I laugh and remind Chris that at this rate the final will be 60 - 0. The crowd is stunned.

4:57 - Hefe #3 served. Feeling courageous.

5:00 - Canada scores! Shiezah! Maybe it won't be that easy. Randoms chest bump.

5:01 - USA answers :21 sec later! I love it!!! 2-1 USA. Now I'm chest bumping.

5:05 to 6:17 - the teams trade goals but the US continues to lead 3-2. I begin to see the canadians lose their spirit as they trade quips and talks about, "If only Gretzky was here!"

6:25 - Nervous, I switch to captain Morgan and am rewarded by a huge US goal! 4-2 red, white, and blue. The canadians play loud music (ironically about hockey) to stay motivated and say things like, "dat US goalie is standing on his head, eh."

6:48 - Crosby lucky goal... 4-3 Usa with two minutes to play. The crowd erupts as if they're offering free kokanee.

6:55 - Canada attacks furiously and pulls their goalie. I respond with chants of, "Overrated!" I feel like I'm in the duke student section. USA clinches empty goal 5-3! Woot woot!!!!!!! Let the chants begin!!!

Good times!


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