United States, We are Golden Together

It may have been an early Sunday morning wake-up call we all dragged ourselves out of bed for, but it was one we will never forget. Canada vs. the United States with a Gold Medal on the line in Milan not only stood on business. With Jack Hughes’ golden goal in OT to seal the gold for Team USA, our first in Olympic hockey since 1980, we have the Miracle on Ice, and now we have the Greatest Show on Ice.

In a game that featured the world’s best hockey players going after what many agree is the highest form of a trophy in sports, the gold medal, we saw this sport truly at its best for 62–63+ minutes. Goalies made saves that will live on highlight reels for the next two centuries, including the true MVP of the game for the U.S., Connor Hellebuyck, whose paddle save likely prevented a late 2–1 Canadian lead. And while I’m all about U.S.A., credit must be given to Jordan Binnington as well, who made incredible save after save against the Americans.

This game, though, was not easy. The Americans scraped & clawed their way through constant onslaughts from arguably three of the top five players in the world on the same freaking line, with the top defenseman (well, 1B in my book) right behind them. After early wizardry from Matt Boldy gave the U.S. a 1–0 lead, the second period was a blood pressure medicine company’s payday. The Canadians were all over the U.S., yet somehow, some way, we came out of the period tied 1–1. That included one of the best penalty kills you may EVER see in hockey...5-on-3 for over a minute and a half, and they stood tall. Then they did it again in the third, shorthanded with only minutes to go, ending the tournament PERFECT on the kill.

In the third period, I can’t speak for the rest of the nation, but I personally sweat off about 3–5 pounds, no doubt about it. As the time got shorter & shorter, you just knew the next goal was going to be the decider, it was only a matter of who. After both teams failed on power plays, OT felt like destiny after what we watched for 60 minutes.

I mean, AI couldn’t have written this script any better. Canada, U.S., gold medal, sudden death. This is why we are sports fans. You sit through so many letdowns, blowouts, & bad play for moments like this. We seek the perfect game, and today we got it. After a few more close calls, Jack Hughes made a slick play in the D-zone, and as we all know in sports, if you make a hustle play, good things come your way. Zach Werenski, best friend of the late Johnny Gaudreau (who was honored in the best way by the Americans), wins a puck battle and finds Hughes for the goal that unites a nation. Jack, you ain’t ever buying a drink...or hell, even a meal, in the States again, bud.

From puck drop to the national anthem, a perfect morning for the United States of America. Do we all still have our differences? Sure. But for about three hours this morning, we remembered we’re in this together. Sports have a powerful reach that can’t be denied, it helps us forget the outside noise & come together as Americans to be part of something bigger, something great. U.S.A. hockey gave us that today, and they deserved every single set of eyes on them as they did something we haven’t seen in 46 years.

How can you not be proud to be an American!!!

Boys, we are Olympic Hockey Gold Medal Champions.

Now play me out with some Free Bird.