Red, White and Blue

Red, White and Blue

An underdog is a person or group in a competition, frequently in electoral politics, sports and creative works, who is popularly expected to lose.

Do you believe in miracles?

“Sometimes, the best team in a tournament does not take home the Gold medal”. That was Team USA head coach Ron Wilson’s quote after the United States lost in Overtime to Team Canada during the Mens Ice Hockey final at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver .

The miracle aspect I did not buy into however, I did buy into the fact that this Team USA roster had the goods to compete and possibly defeat the best. That was, of course, after looking over Ryan Miller’s season as well as the entire unit as a whole one at a time.

The “underdog” tag was placed on the U.S. team the day Brian Burke announced his roster (as well as the second annual Winter Classic being played). That was until everyone started to realize that a great, hot goaltender could steal games.

Ryan Miller is that goaltenders mold. Posting a stingy 1.04 goals against average during the two week tournament and being named the MVP of the tournament proves why, along with buying into coach Wilson’s system as a whole, the Americans took the Gold medal game into overtime.

The positive that did not show on one single players face on team USA as they recieved their “Silver” medals is that the “experts” didn’t even feel this team would play for a medal. Let alone take the Gold medal game into an extra session.

Aside from Miller, what can be said about the efforts of the entire roster except congratulations. Congrats on an amazing effort and bringing home the Silver medal. You are on the map as one of the top countries in the world. And, to be fair and give credit where credit is due, you had already beaten the team who captured the bragging rights tonight. Do not look back on these Olympics and dwell on them. Carry your head high with pride in knowing that as an underdog you defied the odds.

Tim Gleason, Zach Parise, Chris Drury, Erik Johnson, Brian Rafalski, Ryan Kesler, Patrick Kane; the list can go on without excluding a single player – a list of warriors, of “olympians”. Bobby Ryan, Joe Pavelski, Paul Stasny, Jonathan Quick, Ryan Suter, Jack Johnson, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Phil Kessel, David Backes, Ryan Whitney, Ryan Malone and Brooks Orpik all need to take this experience and carry it with them towards the World Championships as well as the upcoming 2014 Sochi Games. I say that with a positive thought that NHLers will be permitted to play in said games.

Even Tim Thomas needs recognition for being an amazing teammate.

For names that were “snubbed” like T.J. Oshie, Kyle Okposo and Craig Anderson to name a few; build in anticipation of being able to take part in some of, if not, the best hockey every played.

The outcomes of the events in Hockey that took place over the course of these Olympic games should have brought in new viewers to the sport. Especially within the states for the Americans put on a performance that no one should be able to look passed. This tournament showed the intensity and excitement that comes along with the great sport of hockey. The NHL fan base should immediately grow from the previous two weeks.

No, the USA did not come out on top of the world but they did present enough proof that they are a dangerous group talent wise and that they can play with the best of the best.

To the Canadians and great nation of Canada, I tip my cap. A wonderful Olympics, a wonderful host and tonight you sit atop the rest of the globe in the sport you made famous. A more than worthy candidate to receive the gold medal. However, the talent level was evenly matched for sixty minutes today.

The amazing story that was written today was that of two great powers colliding. Now that the chapter is complete, the NHLers who participated for every nation re-create the common theme as a whole to do battle for Lord Stanley’s Cup.

A common bond was formed and for what it’s worth I truly hope the world gained a bit more respect for the sport as well as the development that is now starting to show it’s potential within the United States of America again.

You can reach Anthony anytime by e-mailing him at: ACHockeyGuys@gmail.com

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