Olympics Day 10 – Super Sunday!

Before the Game started... GO CANADA GO!!!

I cheered for 3 different hockey teams yesterday. Czech, Canada and Finland. All 3 lost.

I even had my lucky loonie in my pocket. For Canada’s next game tomorrow, I need to reevaluate my cheering techniques.

I actually didn’t even have the chance to watch the Czech – Russia game, I was busy walking around Yaletown.

Faces painted and ready to party in Yaletown!

This guy was serious... the flag is a collectors item!

Me in Yaletown before the game

Chad before the game

For the Canada – USA game, I was thrilled to actually have a ticket! Well, Chad had tickets and was nice enough to invite me. I felt very honoured and lucky. We wandered over towards Canada Hockey place quite early; just to give us enough time to check out the people and get inside in time for the pre-game skate. The games have now been in town for 10 days, and although the energy of the crowd has been beyond intense, yesterday, it was taken to a new level. Walking around, I saw more maple leafs than I could count. People everywhere were cheering and yelling and making all kinds of noise.

We walked around false creek and checked out the line-ups for Molson Canadian Hockey house, (HUGE!), and Canada, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Russia house.

Walking around by Russia House

Near Russia House

The game started at 4:30 and we got to the gates at about 3. We got through security very quickly, but once we were on the other side, we realized the doors to the stadium weren’t even open yet. It didn’t matter, the sun was shining and the crowd was in such a joyful mood, everyone was happy!

The crowd outside of Canada Hockey Place

Chad and friends outside of Canada Hockey Place

As we started to move to go in, once again, camera crews spotted Chad and asked him for an interview. This time it was a crew from Korea, and because he couldn’t really understand them, he just cheered GO CANADA GO!!!

Chad yelling on Korean TV

Once inside, the excitement was so powerful, it almost made me cry. Thousands of people there to cheer on Canada; it was amazing. There were also a lot of Americans in the stands. A lot more than I expected; they were actually all around us. We showed them that we were good hosts, and even though Chad was trash talking the American Family in front of us, they were all laughing together.

The game started before I knew it; it was strange to go to a hockey game and not hear the national anthems before hand.

Pre-skate

I'm just a little excited!!!

Go Canada!!!

We all know the outcome, and I certainly don’t need to relive any of the US goals, but I will say when Canada got its first goal at 8:53, the crowd was wild. The love in that arena was so powerful; I’m sure a lot of people are hoarse today from all the screaming.

At the end of the game, the older American Gentleman behind me, patted me on the shoulder, and shook my hand and said, “Good Game”, as if I had actually been playing!

Stars and Stripes in a Sea of Red & White

Near the end when we thought we still might have a chance

I know a lot of people are bitter about the game, and believe me, I was disappointed, but I posted this as my Facebook status after the game: OK... The game was intense and didn't have the outcome we all would have liked... It's just one game! We're not out yet! I still say GO CANADA GO!!! And then: At least we beat the USA in Ice Dance tonight... :-)

Dual Citizen?

I was super excited when I found out I was going to the Canada USA game and thought it would be my only Olympic Hockey experience, but at the last minute yesterday, we also got tickets to the Finland Sweden game last night! In fact, they weren’t just any tickets, they were tickets for a suite!

The Finland – Sweden game was just as important to the Scandinavian countries last night as the Canada – USA game was to us. Finland and Sweden have a long rivalry and the Gold Medal game in 2006 just added to it.

SUOMI! SUOMI!

SEDINS!

I was torn who to cheer for, one of my best friends is married to a Fin, (who was also at the game last night), so I wanted to cheer for Finland, but I’m also a fan of the Sedins. I decided to cheer for Finland, and chanted Suomi, Suomi along with them. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough. Finland couldn’t pull through and the Swedes finally won 3-0.

Lots of Yellow, lots of Blue...

With Panu and Toni, my Finnish Friends! SUOMI!!!

After a long day... do we look tired?

While we were at the Canada – USA game, Kristina Groves won another medal – A Silver in Ladies 1500m speed skating!

The medal count for today is:

4 GOLD – 4 SILVER - 1 BRONZE

GO CANADA GO!!!