Canada and Hockey
We all squeezed the stick and we all pulled the trigger and all I remember was the crowd start to roar.
We lined up around 10am to get in to the Vogue theatre in downtown Vancouver to watch the gold medal ice hockey game of the 2010 Winter Olympics, aka, "the game". The game didn't start until noon, and we already had guaranteed seating because we pre-ordered out tickets the day before. Still, lining up _only_ two hours early seemed ridiculously late. All along Granville St. there were long lines for each and every bar, pub, or restaurant. The lines merged together and the street party had begun.
Every few minutes an american waving a flag would walk down the street, taunting the fans. A chorus of boos followed. Once an American lady quietly wheeled her wheelchair down the street. The crowed didn't say a thing. That embodies the spirit of the Canadian fans. The rivalry in what is our sport is impassioned but it doesn't supplant our politeness.
A car waiving American flags flagrantly was followed by a police vehicle. Coincidence? A few times the police flashed their lights and the mob backed away from the car.
Once inside, our seats were great and the game was better. A first period lead held up until seconds remained in the third. of course the gold medal game would go in to overtime. And when Iginla passed the puck to Crosby, Canada put the puck in the net. We willed it there. Collectively, a few million people jumped in to the air.
People around the country could have watched the game at home but they didn't. Over and over they chose to watch the game with others, crowded around tv's to share in the moment. Never before have so many Canadians focused their attention on one event. Perhaps never before have so many dreams come true at once.
And we were there, in the heart of Vancouver, sharing our passion with the world.