Canada Is On Top of The World

In what was the most important international hockey game for Canada since the 2002 Winter Olympics, Team Canada took on Team Finland in the finals of the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. Fans from all across the country tuned in knowing this game likely would be the last high-end competitive hockey game they would be seeing for quite a while with the potential NHL lockout looming large. There was bittersweet excitement throughout the nation as “Gretzky’s Boys” were about to embark on the final journey in their quest for world hockey supremacy!

It was clearly evident as the tournament progressed that this group knew what had to be done and that they were intent on accomplishing their goal. Another disappointment like the one that occurred at the 1996 World Cup at the hands of an American defeat was certainly not an option this time around. For many fans, there seems to be a comfort level around a team managed by the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Pat Quinn. When crunch time comes, for some reason, it is felt the team will get the job done. They got it done in Salt Lake City and this time around, Team Canada was not about to let this tournament slip away.

This team of respected veterans and numerous young stars seemed to come together almost instantaneously under the direction of Gretzky and Quinn. Each game, the team improved until they reached the final when the peak of their improvement was realised. Throughout Team Canada’s schedule, players who are used to being the main man on their NHL clubs took on reduced roles; anything to help this team win. “I am just happy to be a part of this team, whether I’m on the top line, a checker, the water boy, it doesn’t matter when you play for Canada,” quoted Joe Thornton, a perennial all star, in a post game interview. This was clearly a special team of players who all had one common goal of a championship in mind.

Team Canada got off to a great start in the game by scoring before one minute had been played. Canada allowed a tying goal before the end of the first period but retook the lead in the second period. Again, Team Canada was unable to hold the lead going into the intermission as Tuomo Ruutu of Finland tied the game on a brilliant one man rush late in the second.

Team Canada showed their urgency as soon as the third period got underway by scoring the go ahead and eventual game winning goal, again before one minute had been played. From that point on, everybody showed a commitment to defense including world class offensive stars like Mario Lemieux, Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla. Iginla made a potential game saving play in the final minute by backchecking right down into the Canadian slot to tie up a loose man as he was about to fire a point blank shot. Martin Brodeur, who started despite suffering from a very painful hand injury, played very well and made a couple of big saves late in the game. In the end, Team Canada came away with a 3-2 victory infront of a deafening crowd at Air Canada Centre.

This team has a lot to be proud of. Not only did they win the big prize but they suffered through some serious adversity along the way. Team Canada was without some of there highest profile defensemen in Chris Pronger and Al MacInnis before the tournament even got underway. Along the way Ed Jovanovski and Wade Redden were injured forcing the internationally inexperienced Scott Hannan and Jay Bouwmeester into action. Both responded phenomenally! Martin Brodeur was unable to play in the semi final game against the Czech Republic forcing an undoubtedly nervous Roberto Luongo into the net. He too responded phenomenally backstopping Canada to a heart stopping overtime win!

Perhaps the most difficult thing of all was that Team Canada won this tournament on home soil infront of crazed fans that sometimes can increase the pressure felt by the players. For that, this team will go down as one of the best to represent Canada on the world stage. You can be assured that the next time it comes time to reassemble Team Canada, a lot of these players will be back to give it another go. Well done men!!!! Go Canada Go!!!!!