Canada’s women’s hockey team achieved tonight, exactly what they wanted to when they began their journey earlier this year. In front of over 10,000 ecstatic fans at the Halifax Metro Center, the Canadian women took home the Gold medal of Women’s Hockey. The eighth time in a row they have received gold, the eighth time they’ve heard O Canada, though this time they had over 10,000 helpers with the words.
As is always the case when they play the USA, it was an exciting, fast paced and hard hitting championship game. Hayley Wickenheiser converting a Danielle Goyette pass to put the Canadians ahead 1-0at 4:17 of the second period. Early in the third Canada’s Delaney Collins slide the puck over the American goal line, after it appeared that US goaltender Pam Dreyer had made the save. Regardless the goal counted, Canada was up 2-0, and despite a number of chances through the third, that would be the score that would stand until the end of the game.
The Americans thought they had pulled to within one goal in the third, as they scored what appeared on television to be a goal at the fifteen minute mark. But since television replays are not utilized in the Women’s championship, the referee consulted the goal judge, who apparently missed the call, ruling it off the cross bar and not in the net. The call incensed the American bench and sent Katy King to the penalty box when in anger she attacked one of the Canadian skaters. Time would run out on the Americans after that, Kim St. Pierre would celebrate a shut out and the team their eighth gold medal.
While it’s cold consolation right now, the Americans can take pride in their effort and their determination. They gave the Canadians everything they could ask for and more. These two teams have met in every Gold Medal game in Women’s Hockey; you get the feeling they’ll be renewing acquaintances again next year for the Gold medal.
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