USA Loses a Game for the Ages

By Greg Caggiano


Five years from now, teenagers in the United States will be saying that they got into hockey because of this game. Even though Team USA lost, what this game will do for the sport of hockey in a country where it currently sits fourth tier will be unmatched.

The numbers will not be in for a few days but it can be certain that this was the most watched hockey game in the history of television in the United States. People that do not even like hockey were glued to the set for nearly three hours as Canada dropped USA 3-2 in overtime. Canada had jumped on top 2-0 early, but the US climbed back in it, scoring once in the second and the game tying with just 24 seconds to go in regulation.

I sat literally at the edge of my seat for the third period and overtime, and I'm not even a big fan of Olympic hockey. This was one for the ages, an epic matchup between two countries who like to think of themselves as hockey giants. Even with the Canadians grabbing gold, popularity for hockey in this country will skyrocket.

And so the tournament ends, what the players were calling the best two weeks of hockey the world will ever see. In four years these teams will meet again, and word is Gary Bettman is thinking of pulling NHL players out of the Olympics from here on out. I was a fan of this at first, but after watching this game, I think it is safe to say that the sport of hockey needs the best players on the greatest stage. This game will be remembered forever in the annals of hockey history.