U-S-A, U-S-A

OK, so they didn't win but you can't feel anything but proud of the boys in red, white, and blue and the performance they put on the entire Olympics. Some criticized when the US came out with their young line-up full of first-timers but the team played with the heart and fire you expect when someone puts on the sweater for their home country. After the abysmal display from Torino in 2006, Brian Burke and the decision makers knew they needed to try something different this time and they came up with a good blend of speed, skill, and toughness to carry them all the way to the gold medal game.

After the first USA v. Canada game everyone said they were lucky to win it, they needed a spectacular performance by Ryan Miller just to survive it, that Sunday was going to be a repeat only with more lamps lit by the Canadians, but that was not the case. Sunday's game was one of the greatest Olympic hockey games I have ever seen. Not the result, because nothing can ever top the 1980 game for drama and shock-value, but for the quality of the game and the level of skill on display. This was a game fought on equal footing. On paper, the Canadians overmatch the USA in star power, skill, and experience. But on the ice, they we even. Shots were even, faceoffs were even, and through 60 minutes the score was even too. I am saddened that the game ended the way it did, obviously I wanted the USA to come home with gold around their necks. But they have nothing to be ashamed of. They played their hearts out and they made all us hockey fans proud.