This sums it all up.

When Jarome Iginla won a battle for the puck against the boards, passed to Sidney Crosby for the game winning goal last night, we witnessed history. It will be an event that is played and re-played one million times afterward until it is burned into our collective conscious. Sidney Crosby could retire tomorrow and will be inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame based on what transpired yesterday. Any doubts about the hype behind Crosby have been erased (although I will say the battle of OV VS Sid is not over).

A new generation has new heroes. Not only in hockey, but across all events. Contrary to what nay-sayers said about the immense pressure on our athletes, about the perceived arrogance of Own The Podium, we excelled on unheard of levels.

This is what hockey means to Canada. Had the Americans won the gold yesterday, Times Square would not have filled up and overflowed, choking traffic throughout Manhattan. Every TV in every living room across the Midwest was not tuned to the game, the American collective holding their breaths in hopes of another miracle on ice Not even close.

That’s not to say that hockey isn’t going to see a significant boost south of the border. Team USA has a lot of be proud of. They were easily one of the best hockey teams ever assembled and definitely the best America has ever iced.

Breaking out the pipes minutes after Team Canada wins.

At the risk of getting on some kind of anti-Olympic hit list, I honestly believe Canadians can pat themselves on the back for a job well done during these games. We played host to the world and I’m hoping that everyone is leaving our party wondering when the next one is coming. Sure there were hiccups, just like any great get together, but no one had to call the cops to break up the party.

The average Canadian did not panic, or nitpick our athletes over the misses or the lack of medals in the initial 48 hours of the games. You held strong, cheered on our nation and the world and didn’t seem to care too much that Cypress mountain was a pretty bad place to hold some of those events.

I would even hazard a chance to congratulate the anti-Olympic movement. As much as you really, really wanted to ruin the party, you didn’t do it. And you know what? Your message did get heard, at to some. One of the greatest things about Canada is our freedom of speech and throughout my travels and research into the Olympics, I did come away with a better understanding of what you guys were so mad about (hint: It’s not because they don’t like hockey). Now that the Olympics are over, you can focus on the aftermath and your voice is going to continue to be heard, whether pro-Olys like it or not.

It felt like '04, only colder.

The only thing that really upset me about the Olympics were fellow Canadians chastising myself and others for being TOO patriotic, as if that’s something wholly offensive during a sporting event. I’m not waving the flag for war, or for peace or for some political means. I’m waving the flag for the thrill of competition and the desire to succeed.  I’m waving the flag and uniting beside other Canadians, having fun and I’m pretty sure I’m not hurting anyone in the process.

But I digress.

There was two ways last night could have ended. One was what did happen, the spontaneous hockey love in that took place in Flames Central and on 17th Ave. A mile of high fives, tolerant cops and non-hockey fans sporting colours just to get in on the party.
The other would have been a slow, fuzzy, sad walk home in the sunshine. I’m glad we got what we did.

JC/NB

PS: I know there’s people who think the closing ceremonies sucked. Aside from the baffling choice of almost unknown Winnipeg band Inward Eye to open the show and the disappointing appearances from Avril and Headly, it was pretty much what I expected. I got to see Neil Young and that’s A-Ok with me. Remember CTV was the parent broadcaster behind the show in case you were wondering why it was a little too E-Talk daily.