Saturday, February 23, 2002
Hockey puts on super show
By ERIC FRANCIS -- Sun Media
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Russians elected to play after all. Problem was, it took two periods to make that decision.
And while the end result saw the Americans move on to tomorrow's gold medal game, it was the game that won.
Capitalizing on a U.S. TV audience that was quite likely the highest in hockey history, the Americans and Russians added another glorious chapter to an unlikely rivalry born 22 years ago to the day.
After two periods of domination that saw the Americans outshoot the visitors 37-11 and outscore then 3-0, the Russians made a game of it by turning the final period into one of the most exciting in modern hockey history.
"That was one of the best games I've ever seen," said Jeremy Roenick of his team's 3-2 win.
"That third period was, well, I didn't see too many people sitting in their seats. This was a great day for hockey."
In a country that has yet to embrace a game Canadians know as the world's best, this was what everyone was hoping would happen.
When Gary Bettman and the NHL owners agreed to suspend their season so the game could put its best foot forward on the grandest of stages, this is what they had in mind.
Not only is the Canada-U.S. final the perfect scenario to spark more interest, but last night's late semi-final also worked it's way into the perfect script for hockey.
Picture an American arena full of screaming sports fans, uprooted from their seats on several occasions as their team fought desperately to preserve the win.
Before the game scalpers doubled the price of $200 US tickets as a band played outside and a buzz filled the air.
Finally, if only for a day, hockey had become every bit the spectacle its NFL brethren has fed off of in the U.S.
After the game, the mood prevailed as relative newcomers to the sport walked into the night wearing American hockey jerseys and chanted the familiar "U-S-A!"
The same chant filled the E Center throughout the evening as both goalies stole the show with spectacular save after save. There were plenty of hits, there was lots of speed and there was a national pride that made it all the more entertaining.
In the end, the home side fought off a stirring comeback attempt that saw the Russians fall one goal short of ruining the party.
So now, a new generation of American hockey fans will spend the next two days talking about a game they likely only saw as a stereotypical bloodbath before the wide ice and superstars meshed for these Winter Games.
Now it's a hockey game all of North America can embrace, doing wonders for the future of Canada's national pastime on both sides of the border.
"It's bigger than a dream final -- it's a final of the ages," said Roenick.
"This is the 1996 World Cup right here all over again," added Tony Amonte.
Before the game, Russian coach Slava Fetisov predicted it would be the most-watched game in hockey history -- the perfect opportunity to sell the game.
Who knows how many American sports fans it converted into hockey fans yesterday, but if yesterday's game didn't whet their appetite, nothing will.
"There have been some great games in this tournament -- and this was certainly one of them," Scott Young said. "It doesn't get much more exciting than that."
Oh yes it does. And tomorrow the Americans will see exactly what I mean.
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2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
