Winter Is Oh So Cold For US Women's Hockey. Canada's Poulin stuns all of North America

With the game on the line and the gold medal firmly in the grasp of the US women's hockey team, Canada needed to respond.

This rivalry is past the stage of healthy.  This is one of those rivalries that the word bitter is the only appropriate descriptor.  Canada had won the gold medal three times previous to this game and the US was fed up.  As the game neared its close of regulation play, the Canadian team found itself down 2-0 and time was not equal to hope.  Somewhere in the deepest recess of the Canadian psyche lived the credo that every TRUE competitor knows.  Stranger things have happened.

Just when you think you've seen it all you see something else.  In some ways these scenes are just a repeat of a familiar story, but with sports it always feels brand new.  The Americans have dominated international play since the last Olympics.  They achieved a stretch in which they beat the Canadian team 4 in a row only to see the Canadian team take 3 of the last 5 meetings prior to today's finale.

The US seemed clear about the monster they had to overcome today and they forced that monster into a scoreless corner with minutes to play.  Ironically, my alternative viewing option (all men have an additional sport to watch during the commercials) was a flashback replay of Ali's Rumble In The Jungle.  In many ways, this is exactly what occurred in today's Olympic gold medal match. Canada got the best punch that America had to offer.

Poulin repeats her gold medal feat.

Being down 3-0 is a death nail late in a game, but 2-0 is different.  2-0 keeps you within one intense effort and one lucky bounce from further hope.  Time is not in our control, but hope that produces effort is.  4 years ago, an amazing legend of international hockey play found the net late to capture the gold for the Canadian women's hockey team. Today, 4 years later, that same lady found the net with seconds left on the clock and did it again in a sudden death overtime.

A timely bit of luck gave Canada a player advantage, but luck is what you make it.  The US had that same advantage earlier in the overtime period but did not capitalize.  In fact, they quickly committed a penalty of their own to lose the player advantage that they enjoyed for about 20 seconds.  Much like my Broncos from last years playoff loss to Baltimore, or George Foreman who had a victory in hand, but did not have the heart of a closer, closing is everything.  Champions close the deal.

The crowd that follows women's hockey prior to the Olympics is small and does not include me. You don't have to watch women's hockey to know that Poulin has failed much more than she has succeeded at these moments.  This is easy to discern because the winner rushes into that opportunity for failure in a way that makes everyone else watch and marvel.

Down 2-0 with less than 2 minutes had to be a sickening feeling for Canada. Within a short spell they flushed all of that sour emotion right from their bowels and directly south for all of America to feel.  Losing in the winter can be oh so cold.

Winter Olympics In Sochi Get An Avalanche From Colorado

The Avalanche have sent four players to the Olympics in Sochi

If Vladimir Putin needs any help with security he might be on his own.  If he runs short of snow, Colorado sent an Avalanche to Sochi. Actually, we have sent four Avalanche players to the winter Olympics this year, and it begs a few important questions.

First of all, why would the NHL risk injury to their most valuable players by sending them to the Olympics in the middle of a season?  The mere privilege of playing for your own country is incentive enough to risk a lot. I realize that this has been the Olympic standard forever, but my team hasn't had such a likelihood of littering Olympic lineups in a while.

This year we have 4 players that did make it.  Matt Duchene, Semyon Varlamov, Gabriel Landiskog and Paul Stasny.  If you are watching the Avs, it should be clear that the rookie, Nathan McKinnon could  soon become an Olympian as well as Ryan O'Reilly. But what about P.A. Parenteau, or Jan Hejda?  What about Erik Johnson.  These guys could help any team win games, and when America gets to know all of these Av's, we will lose a few to free agency.  Those that remain will join this years group of Olympians four years from now.  It is possible that the Av's will bum rush the league with a deep run in the playoffs this year. They will certainly do it before the next winter Olympics return.

That is good from the standpoint of prestige, but bad when you consider the physical demand a long run in the Olympics will require, and the physical risk that you incur while doing it.  The most difficult part of being or having young players is the adjustment to such a long season.  Those who make the adjustment with lots of rest and proper diet can overcome the mental walls that challenge young players. Typically, you won't know what you don't know.

I am excited and concerned for all of our Olympians.  They are deserving of the honor they've received.  A couple of them have teams that could win the whole thing, so Av's fans might have a rooting stake late into this tournament.  I will also find myself watching to see if they make it through safely, and if they return to the team with the inspiration of an Olympian, or the legs of a noodle.