'Super Sunday', the day Canada stands still...

Oh I do pity the Canadian men's Olympic hockey team.


I, just like the rest of Canadians, no matter where we are to be found, are expecting our boys to draw blood on the ice Sunday and show no mercy to the opposing American team. 

Apparently, the Vancouver locals have dubbed Sunday "Super Sunday", making the day seem like a Canadian version of the Super Bowl, substituting the sport with ice and a little black puck. This is the day that  "Newfies" as far east as St. John's, Newfoundland will be united with those cosmopolitan, tree-hugging Vancouverites for a few hours in the pursuit of a national victory.

The headlining event is compared to the 2002 Salt Lake City upset where Canada bashed the U.S to win the gold, even though it didn't do so much as cause a flinch to Americans' egos to lose as it would have hurt Canadians had they been the losers. I only pray that we don't get our own upset on home soil when the whole country is only concerned with one thing - can Sid the Kid, Brodeur and the rest of the gang knock the Americans out of their way in their pursuit of gold?

The Canadians have shown their dominance on the ice in the last two preliminary games where they beat the Norwegians 8 to 0 and the Swiss 3 to 0, although the Swiss put up a bit more of a fight. Of course, they lead their pool. The Americans have made themselves convincing contenders as well, beating the Swiss 3 to 1 and those poor, helpless Norwegians 6 to 1. 

Sunday's game will prove to be more than a war of the two neighbours, it will be a war of NHL teams. Between the two national teams, there are ten different NHL teams being represented among the players. It must be a bit disorienting to play against your regular teammate - I can only imagine. But there's no time to get sentimental and emotional now, especially for the Canadians. Not when a country's pride and identity seems to be at stake.

All niceness should be pushed aside Sunday at 4:30 Pacific Standard Time and the war face should be put on in what has been the most anticipated event for Canadians at the Vancouver Games. 

Let the better country win.

V.K.L