We share a long border, the English language and a continent. But for the next two hours, they are The Maple Leaf Flag Waving Enemy.It's the Olympic hockey showdown at the OK Corral, men's division. It's Team USA versus our Canadian neighbors,
It's Canada's game and national sporting passion. Team USA are no hockey slouches and are playing the day before the 30th anniversary of the 'Miracle on Ice'.
The Canadians won Olympic gold at the 1952 Oslo Games and to our chagrin the 2002 Salt Lake Games. Team USA won on home soil at Squaw Valley in 1960 and Lake Placid in 1980. We're also the only nation in Winter Olympic history to have won Olympic hockey gold as the host nation and we've done it twice.
Fittingly, there are high stakes in this final men's preliminary round game as well. Winner wins Group A and gets a bye into the quarterfinals. Loser plays an extra game to get to the medal round.'Feel the Thunder' my azz. Time for some Olympic payback.
In 2002 they beat us in the gold medal game on US soil. Time to bring some pain to Canadian dreams of winning gold on their home soil.
USA! USA! USA!