I'm normally not this nasty, but after all the trash talkin' after the mens game from the Americans, who I can bet don'y know a hockey stick from puck and needed foxtrack to follow the game.
See, this is bad karma. You have to wait until after (hopefully) Sunday to trash talk!
Although I will say - wtf is up with all the American dames wearing mascara in a hockey game???
I didn't get the mascara either :? They won a silver medal which is great and I imagine they were crying as their emotions got the best of them. No trash talking them.
As far as the underage drinking goes the one player is 18, not like she was 14 and getting all lit up!
Our guys are going to win gold We would like to have a matching pair.
YAY Canada
0
coachchris
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 749
I'm normally not this nasty, but after all the trash talkin' after the mens game from the Americans, who I can bet don'y know a hockey stick from puck and needed foxtrack to follow the game.
And i'm sure if Canada wins gold over USA you won't say a thing. And enough about Americans not knowing anything about hockey, that's pretty ignorant. We know,we know hockey is Canada's game. It is so complex! only a Canadian can figure it out. gimme a break, pal.
Way to own that podium!
315 million people for the USA to draw on for their athletes to 35 million people for us to draw on, I would say we are holding our own on the podium in comparison to the USA thanks!
Adolescence in essence is all about trust.
Leaving is for the answering machine.
[/quote]315 million people for the USA to draw on for their athletes to 35 million people for us to draw on, I would say we are holding our own on the podium in comparison to the USA thanks! [/quote]
Thank you
I tried pointing this out earlier in another thread!!
Yeah, it isn't fair to compare programs. Still, Canada produced Steve Nash and that is enough for me. I love that guy!
Well the way I see it the US altered their hockey program to be more Canadian.
Steve Nash isn't even tall, what gives!
Funny how small he seems out there when the guy is still like 6'3" or 6'4". He looks like I could put him in a headlock and give him a noogie no problem.
Idaho's Premier Outdoor Writer
Please Support My Writing Habit By Purchasing A Book:
315 million people for the USA to draw on for their athletes to 35 million people for us to draw on, I would say we are holding our own on the podium in comparison to the USA thanks! [/quote]
Thank you
I tried pointing this out earlier in another thread!!
Enough bickering kids [/quote]
But dad....it's sooo much fun Nothing wrong with healthy bickering!
Adolescence in essence is all about trust.
Leaving is for the answering machine.
Funny how small he seems out there when the guy is still like 6'3" or 6'4". He looks like I could put him in a headlock and give him a noogie no problem.
hehe, he is 6'3". He looks like he is about 4'2" among the other players.
Crazy!
Although I will say - wtf is up with all the American dames wearing mascara in a hockey game???
I thought the same. These girls wear more make-up to play hockey than I wear on a night out. Putting on make-up was never a part of my pre-game ritual, but to each his own, I suppose.
Overall, I didn't feel bad for the Americans, but I did feel bad for Julie Chu. She just looked so heartbroken.
Although I will say - wtf is up with all the American dames wearing mascara in a hockey game???
I thought the same. These girls wear more make-up to play hockey than I wear on a night out. Putting on make-up was never a part of my pre-game ritual, but to each his own, I suppose.
Overall, I didn't feel bad for the Americans, but I did feel bad for Julie Chu. She just looked so heartbroken.
YAY CANADA!!!
ya ... you could tell who the veterans were ... 3 silvers is hard to swallow ...
315 million people for the USA to draw on for their athletes to 35 million people for us to draw on, I would say we are holding our own on the podium in comparison to the USA thanks!
Thank you
I tried pointing this out earlier in another thread!!
Enough bickering kids [/quote]
But dad....it's sooo much fun Nothing wrong with healthy bickering![/quote]
i thought the americans were all class in defeat ... and there is no shame in crying - it just shows how much you care ... you could tell who were the veterans on the team ... the younger ones were happy ... and the crowd was great in cheering them ...
I don't care if the Americans lose, I can guarantee you that Team Canada from the most veteran don't care either, research a little of this rivalry then you'll see how much I know.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
The "ladies" from the Great White North decided to plop down at center ice after their gold-medal victory over the United States and quaff some beers as if they were in a Calgary trailer park -- not an Olympic venue.
After the American women, who lost, 2-0, Thursday, had left the arena to cry in their beer, the maple leaf-wearing hockey gals returned to Vancouver's Olympic hockey rink brews in hand.
With gold medals hanging from their necks, Haley Irwin was spotted pouring beer into the mouth of teammate Tessa Bonhomme. Goalie Charline Labonte sprawled out at center ice and plopped a bottle of brew right on top of the Olympic rings.
Reuters
BREW-HOO: Canadian gals take to ice with beers andstogies after beating UnitedStates for hockey gold medal.
Photos: Canadian women's hockey team celebrates win
COMPLETE OLYMPICS COVERAGE
Some were lounging around with cigars. One gal tried to start the Zamboni.
Such "Strange Brew" antics left uptight Olympic officials steaming.
"[This is ] not what we want to see," said International Olympic Committee Executive Director Gilbert Felli. "If they celebrate in the changing room, that's one thing, but not in public."
The heat eventually drew an apology from Canadian hockey officials.
"The members of Team Canada apologize if their on-ice celebrations, after fans had left the building, have offended anyone," the sporting body said in a statement. "In the excitement of the moment, the celebration left the confines of our dressing room and shouldn't have.
"The team regrets that its gold-medal celebration may have caused the IOC or COC [Canadian Olympic Committee] any embarrassment."
Among normally laid-back Canadians, however, the levity raised few eyebrows.
"Let them celebrate, they WON GOLD FOR CANADA for goodness sakes," a reader posted on the Vancouver Sun's Web site.
For the ones who had a notion, a notion deep inside
That it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive
ORGAN DONATION SAVES LIVES http://www.UNOS.org
Donate Organs and Save a Life
Hey Bathgate66, besides winning the Gold, the other thing we seem to be great at is Celebrating and showing up the Americans
2005 - London
2009 - Toronto
2010 - Buffalo
2011 - Toronto 1&2
2013 - London, Pittsburgh, Buffalo
2014 - Cincinnati, St. Louis, Detroit
2016 - Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Ottawa, Toronto 1 2018 - Fenway 1&2 2022 - Hamilton, Toronto 2023 - Chicago 1&2 2024 - Las Vegas 1&2
0
coachchris
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 749
As promised for those who might be interested....an email from Mel Davidson (coach of Team Canada Women's Team)
O CANADA
Wow what an Olympics…….how about our athletes and our country – we have demonstrated to the world what passion and energy we have.
It is hard to believe that today is it – tomorrow we fly home. Three weeks we have been here, our Jasper week seems years ago.
We own the gold medal podium and if the men win today we will break the winter Olympic record for gold medals won, yesterday with three golds by curling, speed skating team pursuit and snowboard we tied the record – with the Bobsleigh bronze we surpassed the most ever medals Canada has won at an Olympics.
Our gold medal game was not a lesson in hockey, it was a solid gritty game which brought forth more young hero’s – Pou scoring two goals and Szabby taking the start and running with it recording her second straight shut out in the games being rewarded as goaltender of the tournament for her efforts. Meghan Agosta was named tournament MVP. To be honest I can’t remember much of the game, I am going to have to watch it on TV - but I do know we won!
However celebration for our win has been delayed as we do damage control for our behaviors following the game and a major screw up in wearing the wrong clothing on TV on CTV following the game.
First the on ice celebration – I have mixed emotions on this and do feel strongly it was blown out of proportion – I probably would have put a stop to the cigars and alcohol appearing on ice but I was gone to do a press conference….that being said it was almost 2 hours following the completion of the game. I did say “Man I left you guys alone for 15 frigging minutes and you create an international scandal!”
One of our players asked me how a win could be so tainted and my reply it is what happens when you forget the whole world is watching. This is the biggest challenge for our players now and the athletes of the 2010 games – they have a responsibility to the youth they represent and look up to – our team are not “boozers” as described by several media and are definitely not smokers. In fact most of the cigars in their mouths were not lit because when they did try it in the dressing room – the response was “this is disgusting”
We have received hundreds (probably getting in the thousands now) of emails that both support and deplore our behaviors so you roll with the punches. As far as Poulin and the under age drinking – we totally forgot the drinking age was 19 in BC – she has been legal in Alberta (where we trained) and Quebec (where she lives) for almost a year. But that is no excuse and she was in tears that evening when she found out what she had done and has spent the past few days apologizing.
Now the apparel – at the Olympics sponsors pay big money for their brand – I think I mentioned this in a previous email and I am sure you heard at one point over the past couple years the conflict and challenges faced when we could not wear our regular Hockey Canada logoed jersey and a new logo had to be created. Around the village and at media it is HBC – in the arena we are Nike. Well when we got off ice and entered our dressing room Nike had dorned all the player stalls with the big bottles of beer (that you saw in the on ice pictures), golden high top shoes, beautiful white shirts, hats, t-shirts. The dressing room was quite subdued actually – it reminded of the story when the Edmonton Oilers lost the first time to the Islanders and when the Oilers walked by the Islanders dressing room there was celebrating but not exuberantly and people were just sitting in their stalls talking, sharing a drink, taking pictures with the cup – well that was our room – the excitement was there but the exhaustion mentally and physically was also there. Coach Lidster changed into workout clothes so his dress clothes did not get wet – we had six bottles of champagne – only two got opened and one was by me. He said later it was the quietest dressing room celebration he had ever been involved in.
The prime minister came in and talked to us we did a picture with him – lots of pictures were taken with staff and players. As the staff do not get medals it was a good chance for them to see the medal and do pictures.
Back to the apparel issue…..it was back and forth several times whether the team would go to CTV or not – they really just wanted to go to Hockey House and see their family finally at the last minute it was decided they would go to CTV and then to Hockey House – by this time they were dressed in the white shirts and golden shoes and off they went. No one picked up on it and what a mistake – it was a violation of their athlete agreement with COC to appear in Nike gear – supposed to be HBC gear. We will receive a heavy fine down the road for this and spent most of yesterday working with COC to come to an agreement of consequences for our disrespect of the overall Canadian team for this mistake short of all of us going home early. We finally reached one around 2:00 pm yesterday and today I woke up with no fires to put out (that I know of anyway). It was a terrible mistake on behalf and is going to cost Hockey Canada huge dollars – so it has been hard to celebrate.
As is always the case once we are done – we rarely see each other – Dave Jamieson and Peter Jensen have already returned home. Julie and I were able to go to the women’s gold medal curling. Both of us, Robin, Les, Ryan, and Chris watched the men’s gold game in the sin bin. Peter, Doug, Julie and I attended a Petro Canada Coaches recognition ceremony last night, which was very nice – we all received a nice gift from Petro Canada. Petro Canada is a huge partner in the games as they sponsor a home stay program for families of the athletes and many families would not be able to attend if this was not possible.
It has been a jam-packed game and we are pumped to go to the men’s gold medal game today. The closing ceremonies follow right after – like the opening ceremonies we do not have enough passes for the staff to march so the fun never ends – in deciding who gets the experience and who does not. We fly home tomorrow – the players on AC222 to Calgary and the staff on AC224 – both flights leave late afternoon so we have most of the day to pack – which is a good thing!
Thank you to everyone for the emails, texts, and voice mails of support and congratulations – I may not have replied to all of them yet but I have read them and appreciate you taking the time to send them.
I will be taking a few days off but there is not a lot of rest – I am off to CIS Championships March 10-14 (or something like that), that will be followed by staff debriefs, a trip to Toronto to the U18 Pre-Comp Worlds camp, back to Calgary to do player de-briefs, then to Chicago for the U18 Worlds – then we are into April and I have not looked that far ahead yet. My contract with Hockey Canada is up the end of June so I guess I will be doing some job searching as well. This was my last games as a coach, it is time to move out of that area in our National program – maybe the future will provide me with an administration role and I will have an opportunity to go to Sochi but who knows. Hockey has provided myself, family and friends with incredible opportunities and I have no complaints it has been a great ride – I have three Olympic Championship experiences – who’d of thunk it!!!
I will send a final reflection in the weeks to come but for now – enjoy the men’s game – double gold would be incredible and to set the record for golds in the winter Olympics would be the final piece of the best games ever for Canada and it’s athletes.
MEL
Adolescence in essence is all about trust.
Leaving is for the answering machine.
0
coachchris
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 749
Here's the final email and reflection from Mel Davidson, coach of the Canadian Women's Olympic Team...
Final Reflections (sorry for the length)
It has already been a week since we won Gold – how quickly life goes….as I sit at my parent’s acreage enjoying the frosted over country side and a strong cup of coffee - trying to relax I realize how much this year took out of me – I can’t seem to get enough sleep and when I am awake I definitely am not motivated to do much.
Mentally I am very tired but it has not stopped me from considering the drive to Edmonton to watch the CIS Women’s Final between U of M and U of A and the evening men’s match between U of C and U of A – with the games being back to back it is very inviting we will see…..
With a few days to reflect on my third Olympics I thought I would leave you with my top 10 moments/memories of the games – not sure it is fair to assign a number to them as anyone of the moments could be number 1 but here goes
#1 & 2 – Definitely cannot separate these two – the volunteers “Blue Coats” and the Police Forces from all over Canada who had our backs the entire games. These people were incredible support – always with a smile, a good luck pat on the back, a story, time to talk, and numbers galore - they definitely made the games. They were there to do whatever they could go you to make the games just that little bit better – thank you to them all!
#3 – The nightly fireworks – provided a nice end to each day for me – our view from our condo provided me with an incredible vantage point and every night seemed to bring something a little different and always brought a smile to my face.
#4 – The courage brought and strength shown by the Georgia Olympic Team as they walked into the Games just mere hours after losing a teammate and by Joannie Rochette in skating to a Bronze medal within days of losing her mother. In the same token, the support by Olympic fans to both with standing ovations, cards, emails, and flowers everything they could to let them know Canada was there for them.
#5 – Along the same lines – the FANS – whether in the venues, on Robson street, the red mile in Calgary, Wayne Gretzky’s in Toronto – I have always said nothing unifies a country like sport and Canadians are the best – the sea of Red/White and singing of our national anthems are memories I will never forget
#6 – The efficiency in which Vanoc moved thousands of people through the Vancouver airport on departure day March 1st – a temporary terminal was set up at the airport, you were transported there, line ups were minimal, - from the time I got on the bus at the village to walking into the Air Canada Lounge it did not even take 60 minutes (25 of which was spent on the bus getting to the airport). After the nightmares of Torino and Salt Lake it was an incredible surprise – someone did there job and everyone bought in. Overall transportation has to fall in here to – no major issues from our end – terrific bus drivers, efficient service from the village to other venues.
#7 - Sin Bin and their staff – we found the Sin Bin shortly after arriving in the village and every night that we stopped in they always had a table ready – our first night in they did not serve Mike’s and that was the only night – they went out and stocked their fridges, always having a cold Mike’s and glass of ice ready for me upon arrival. As we got tired of eating at the village their BLT’s, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Yam Fries became favorites as well.
#8 - COC Village Office Staff led by Betty – they worked long hours in that office, always ready with a smile, an answer, a congratulations and I never once heard them complain. Betty – well she was one mile of energy – always a hug, a pat – great job COC
#9 – The team themselves – none of us will ever say it was a storybook year – many challenges, discussions, much crustiness, lots of banging of heads between them and myself but in the end they delivered – GOLD – three straight for our program.
Even bigger than gold was how they followed and supported the other Canadian Athletes –
from cheering in the player lounge for Jenn Heil,
to the whole bus screaming for speed skaters as they watched races on their Samsung phones which ultimately would freeze and then you would hear “I am froze” – “I’m not” – then the play by play would happen
to the eerie quiet on the bus as they watched curling – imagine the curling play by play…
to our dressing room moment of silence for the Rochette family
to being brought to tears by Melissa Hollingsworth interview after her race and knowing exactly how she felt
to delaying a team meeting for 30 minutes to watch Clara Hughes’s last race
to the dressing room TV always tuned into an Canadian athlete performance and as a coach wondering if it is a good thing that they are watching TV before a game or during periods but it was
I am so proud of what they have accomplished on the ice and as people this year but even prouder of them for the support they gave the Canadian Olympic Team and how they were fine members of that team.
#10 – Last but not least – the men’s gold – our team and staff were in the stands when we won in Salt Lake and we were there again in 2010. What incredible pressure the men had right from the start but even more so on that final day – they were our key to Olympic history – the piece of puzzle when we could really say we owned the podium – a gold by them would vault us into the most gold ever won by a country in the winter Olympics, not to mention what hockey means to our country. Make no mistake about it – they had embraced their role in the Canadian Olympic team and they knew it was more than just winning hockey gold – it was about doing their part for the team – the Olympic team and they delivered. The Golden Goal they are calling it – what a moment and I like all Canadian Hockey Fans jumped so high I almost fell over the railing of our section. To be a part of 2002 and 2010 double gold’s is surreal but I was and how special is that.
When I started this list I was not sure I could get to 10, not I feel like I could go on forever – when you are in the moment sometimes you forget to enjoy it – I for one would not say the 2010 Olympics were enjoyable for me but they were rewarding. But as I type my top 10 I realize that I had many moments of pride and smiles so I guess I did enjoy it.
It has been 18 years since I seriously started this Olympic journey and I have met more people, had more great experiences in that time that most people get in a lifetime – the sporting world is so small, they say in life we are separated by 6 degrees – I think when you are in sport it is more like 3 degrees – how fortunate I am, how fortunate we all are!
For the next generation of Olympians – “who want it and want it now” – 18 years I have been involved and that is not counting all the formation years before that…….it goes fast so slow down, learn from every experience, realize that no task is to small and by doing it you will be better as a person and in your field.
Thanks to everyone, don’t rush yourself out of the Olympic hangover – it only happens once every four years and for the next four years we “Own The Podium” in so many ways.
I will leave you with this – as I think it sums up what we showed the world as Canadians – it is from Brian Williams (the Brian Williams from NBC) and was forwarded to me by a fellow coach
Nice words from an American about Olympic welcome. After tonight's broadcast and after looting our hotel mini-bars, we're going to try to brave the blizzard and fly east to home and hearth, and to do laundry well into next week. Before we leave this thoroughly polite country, the polite thing to do is leave behind a thank-you note.
Thank you, Canada:
For being such good hosts.
For your unfailing courtesy.
For your (mostly) beautiful weather.
For scheduling no more than 60 percent of your float plane departures at the exact moment when I was trying to say something on television.
For not seeming to mind the occasional (or constant) good-natured mimicry of your accents. For your unique TV commercials -- for companies like Tim Horton’s -- which made us laugh and cry.
For securing this massive event without choking security, and without publicly displaying a single automatic weapon.
For having the best garment design and logo-wear of the games -- you've made wearing your name a cool thing to do.
For the sportsmanship we saw most of your athletes display.
For not honking your horns. I didn't hear one car horn in 15 days -- which also means none of my fellow New Yorkers rented cars while visiting.
For making us aware of how many of you have been watching NBC all these years.
For having the good taste to have an anchorman named Brian Williams on your CTV network, who turns out to be such a nice guy.
For the body scans at the airport which make pat-downs and cavity searches unnecessary.
For designing those really cool LED Olympic rings in the harbor, which turned to gold when your athletes won one.
For always saying nice things about the United States ...when you know we're listening.
For sharing Joannie Rochette with us.
For reminding some of us we used to be a more civil society.
Mostly, for welcoming the world with such ease and making lasting friends with all of us.
Ain't it the truth - eh.
Adolescence in essence is all about trust.
Leaving is for the answering machine.
Thanks for posting these letters. It is us who also should thank woman's hockey, the men's hockey and all our olympic athlete's for providing us 17 days of excitement. A special thanks goes out to Sidney Crosby...because of that goal we don't have to listen to the americans gloat for the next 4 years (and everyone here knows they would). Also a thanks to Vancouver, your city did a wonderful job hosting the olympics.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
Comments
I mean really, isn't the US beating Canada in hockey a little like them beating us in basketball? I suspect that has never happened.
Please Support My Writing Habit By Purchasing A Book:
https://www.createspace.com/3437020
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000663025696
http://earthtremors.blogspot.com/
The US has quite a good hockey program nowadays.
I didn't get the mascara either :? They won a silver medal which is great and I imagine they were crying as their emotions got the best of them. No trash talking them.
As far as the underage drinking goes the one player is 18, not like she was 14 and getting all lit up!
Our guys are going to win gold
YAY Canada
315 million people for the USA to draw on for their athletes to 35 million people for us to draw on, I would say we are holding our own on the podium in comparison to the USA thanks!
Leaving is for the answering machine.
Yeah, it isn't fair to compare programs. Still, Canada produced Steve Nash and that is enough for me. I love that guy!
Please Support My Writing Habit By Purchasing A Book:
https://www.createspace.com/3437020
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000663025696
http://earthtremors.blogspot.com/
Steve Nash isn't even tall, what gives!
Thank you
I tried pointing this out earlier in another thread!!
Enough bickering kids
Funny how small he seems out there when the guy is still like 6'3" or 6'4". He looks like I could put him in a headlock and give him a noogie no problem.
Please Support My Writing Habit By Purchasing A Book:
https://www.createspace.com/3437020
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000663025696
http://earthtremors.blogspot.com/
Thank you
I tried pointing this out earlier in another thread!!
Enough bickering kids
But dad....it's sooo much fun
Leaving is for the answering machine.
Crazy!
I thought the same. These girls wear more make-up to play hockey than I wear on a night out.
Overall, I didn't feel bad for the Americans, but I did feel bad for Julie Chu. She just looked so heartbroken.
YAY CANADA!!!
ya ... you could tell who the veterans were ... 3 silvers is hard to swallow ...
Thank you
I tried pointing this out earlier in another thread!!
Enough bickering kids
But dad....it's sooo much fun
Dad?? :?
But I am a girl
YAY Canada!!!
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
That it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive
ORGAN DONATION SAVES LIVES
http://www.UNOS.org
Donate Organs and Save a Life
2009 - Toronto
2010 - Buffalo
2011 - Toronto 1&2
2013 - London, Pittsburgh, Buffalo
2014 - Cincinnati, St. Louis, Detroit
2016 - Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Ottawa, Toronto 1
2018 - Fenway 1&2
2022 - Hamilton, Toronto
2023 - Chicago 1&2
2024 - Las Vegas 1&2
O CANADA
Wow what an Olympics…….how about our athletes and our country – we have demonstrated to the world what passion and energy we have.
It is hard to believe that today is it – tomorrow we fly home. Three weeks we have been here, our Jasper week seems years ago.
We own the gold medal podium and if the men win today we will break the winter Olympic record for gold medals won, yesterday with three golds by curling, speed skating team pursuit and snowboard we tied the record – with the Bobsleigh bronze we surpassed the most ever medals Canada has won at an Olympics.
Our gold medal game was not a lesson in hockey, it was a solid gritty game which brought forth more young hero’s – Pou scoring two goals and Szabby taking the start and running with it recording her second straight shut out in the games being rewarded as goaltender of the tournament for her efforts. Meghan Agosta was named tournament MVP. To be honest I can’t remember much of the game, I am going to have to watch it on TV - but I do know we won!
However celebration for our win has been delayed as we do damage control for our behaviors following the game and a major screw up in wearing the wrong clothing on TV on CTV following the game.
First the on ice celebration – I have mixed emotions on this and do feel strongly it was blown out of proportion – I probably would have put a stop to the cigars and alcohol appearing on ice but I was gone to do a press conference….that being said it was almost 2 hours following the completion of the game. I did say “Man I left you guys alone for 15 frigging minutes and you create an international scandal!”
One of our players asked me how a win could be so tainted and my reply it is what happens when you forget the whole world is watching. This is the biggest challenge for our players now and the athletes of the 2010 games – they have a responsibility to the youth they represent and look up to – our team are not “boozers” as described by several media and are definitely not smokers. In fact most of the cigars in their mouths were not lit because when they did try it in the dressing room – the response was “this is disgusting”
We have received hundreds (probably getting in the thousands now) of emails that both support and deplore our behaviors so you roll with the punches. As far as Poulin and the under age drinking – we totally forgot the drinking age was 19 in BC – she has been legal in Alberta (where we trained) and Quebec (where she lives) for almost a year. But that is no excuse and she was in tears that evening when she found out what she had done and has spent the past few days apologizing.
Now the apparel – at the Olympics sponsors pay big money for their brand – I think I mentioned this in a previous email and I am sure you heard at one point over the past couple years the conflict and challenges faced when we could not wear our regular Hockey Canada logoed jersey and a new logo had to be created. Around the village and at media it is HBC – in the arena we are Nike. Well when we got off ice and entered our dressing room Nike had dorned all the player stalls with the big bottles of beer (that you saw in the on ice pictures), golden high top shoes, beautiful white shirts, hats, t-shirts. The dressing room was quite subdued actually – it reminded of the story when the Edmonton Oilers lost the first time to the Islanders and when the Oilers walked by the Islanders dressing room there was celebrating but not exuberantly and people were just sitting in their stalls talking, sharing a drink, taking pictures with the cup – well that was our room – the excitement was there but the exhaustion mentally and physically was also there. Coach Lidster changed into workout clothes so his dress clothes did not get wet – we had six bottles of champagne – only two got opened and one was by me. He said later it was the quietest dressing room celebration he had ever been involved in.
The prime minister came in and talked to us we did a picture with him – lots of pictures were taken with staff and players. As the staff do not get medals it was a good chance for them to see the medal and do pictures.
Back to the apparel issue…..it was back and forth several times whether the team would go to CTV or not – they really just wanted to go to Hockey House and see their family finally at the last minute it was decided they would go to CTV and then to Hockey House – by this time they were dressed in the white shirts and golden shoes and off they went. No one picked up on it and what a mistake – it was a violation of their athlete agreement with COC to appear in Nike gear – supposed to be HBC gear. We will receive a heavy fine down the road for this and spent most of yesterday working with COC to come to an agreement of consequences for our disrespect of the overall Canadian team for this mistake short of all of us going home early. We finally reached one around 2:00 pm yesterday and today I woke up with no fires to put out (that I know of anyway). It was a terrible mistake on behalf and is going to cost Hockey Canada huge dollars – so it has been hard to celebrate.
As is always the case once we are done – we rarely see each other – Dave Jamieson and Peter Jensen have already returned home. Julie and I were able to go to the women’s gold medal curling. Both of us, Robin, Les, Ryan, and Chris watched the men’s gold game in the sin bin. Peter, Doug, Julie and I attended a Petro Canada Coaches recognition ceremony last night, which was very nice – we all received a nice gift from Petro Canada. Petro Canada is a huge partner in the games as they sponsor a home stay program for families of the athletes and many families would not be able to attend if this was not possible.
It has been a jam-packed game and we are pumped to go to the men’s gold medal game today. The closing ceremonies follow right after – like the opening ceremonies we do not have enough passes for the staff to march so the fun never ends – in deciding who gets the experience and who does not. We fly home tomorrow – the players on AC222 to Calgary and the staff on AC224 – both flights leave late afternoon so we have most of the day to pack – which is a good thing!
Thank you to everyone for the emails, texts, and voice mails of support and congratulations – I may not have replied to all of them yet but I have read them and appreciate you taking the time to send them.
I will be taking a few days off but there is not a lot of rest – I am off to CIS Championships March 10-14 (or something like that), that will be followed by staff debriefs, a trip to Toronto to the U18 Pre-Comp Worlds camp, back to Calgary to do player de-briefs, then to Chicago for the U18 Worlds – then we are into April and I have not looked that far ahead yet. My contract with Hockey Canada is up the end of June so I guess I will be doing some job searching as well. This was my last games as a coach, it is time to move out of that area in our National program – maybe the future will provide me with an administration role and I will have an opportunity to go to Sochi but who knows. Hockey has provided myself, family and friends with incredible opportunities and I have no complaints it has been a great ride – I have three Olympic Championship experiences – who’d of thunk it!!!
I will send a final reflection in the weeks to come but for now – enjoy the men’s game – double gold would be incredible and to set the record for golds in the winter Olympics would be the final piece of the best games ever for Canada and it’s athletes.
MEL
Leaving is for the answering machine.
Final Reflections (sorry for the length)
It has already been a week since we won Gold – how quickly life goes….as I sit at my parent’s acreage enjoying the frosted over country side and a strong cup of coffee - trying to relax I realize how much this year took out of me – I can’t seem to get enough sleep and when I am awake I definitely am not motivated to do much.
Mentally I am very tired but it has not stopped me from considering the drive to Edmonton to watch the CIS Women’s Final between U of M and U of A and the evening men’s match between U of C and U of A – with the games being back to back it is very inviting we will see…..
With a few days to reflect on my third Olympics I thought I would leave you with my top 10 moments/memories of the games – not sure it is fair to assign a number to them as anyone of the moments could be number 1 but here goes
#1 & 2 – Definitely cannot separate these two – the volunteers “Blue Coats” and the Police Forces from all over Canada who had our backs the entire games. These people were incredible support – always with a smile, a good luck pat on the back, a story, time to talk, and numbers galore - they definitely made the games. They were there to do whatever they could go you to make the games just that little bit better – thank you to them all!
#3 – The nightly fireworks – provided a nice end to each day for me – our view from our condo provided me with an incredible vantage point and every night seemed to bring something a little different and always brought a smile to my face.
#4 – The courage brought and strength shown by the Georgia Olympic Team as they walked into the Games just mere hours after losing a teammate and by Joannie Rochette in skating to a Bronze medal within days of losing her mother. In the same token, the support by Olympic fans to both with standing ovations, cards, emails, and flowers everything they could to let them know Canada was there for them.
#5 – Along the same lines – the FANS – whether in the venues, on Robson street, the red mile in Calgary, Wayne Gretzky’s in Toronto – I have always said nothing unifies a country like sport and Canadians are the best – the sea of Red/White and singing of our national anthems are memories I will never forget
#6 – The efficiency in which Vanoc moved thousands of people through the Vancouver airport on departure day March 1st – a temporary terminal was set up at the airport, you were transported there, line ups were minimal, - from the time I got on the bus at the village to walking into the Air Canada Lounge it did not even take 60 minutes (25 of which was spent on the bus getting to the airport). After the nightmares of Torino and Salt Lake it was an incredible surprise – someone did there job and everyone bought in. Overall transportation has to fall in here to – no major issues from our end – terrific bus drivers, efficient service from the village to other venues.
#7 - Sin Bin and their staff – we found the Sin Bin shortly after arriving in the village and every night that we stopped in they always had a table ready – our first night in they did not serve Mike’s and that was the only night – they went out and stocked their fridges, always having a cold Mike’s and glass of ice ready for me upon arrival. As we got tired of eating at the village their BLT’s, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Yam Fries became favorites as well.
#8 - COC Village Office Staff led by Betty – they worked long hours in that office, always ready with a smile, an answer, a congratulations and I never once heard them complain. Betty – well she was one mile of energy – always a hug, a pat – great job COC
#9 – The team themselves – none of us will ever say it was a storybook year – many challenges, discussions, much crustiness, lots of banging of heads between them and myself but in the end they delivered – GOLD – three straight for our program.
Even bigger than gold was how they followed and supported the other Canadian Athletes –
from cheering in the player lounge for Jenn Heil,
to the whole bus screaming for speed skaters as they watched races on their Samsung phones which ultimately would freeze and then you would hear “I am froze” – “I’m not” – then the play by play would happen
to the eerie quiet on the bus as they watched curling – imagine the curling play by play…
to our dressing room moment of silence for the Rochette family
to being brought to tears by Melissa Hollingsworth interview after her race and knowing exactly how she felt
to delaying a team meeting for 30 minutes to watch Clara Hughes’s last race
to the dressing room TV always tuned into an Canadian athlete performance and as a coach wondering if it is a good thing that they are watching TV before a game or during periods but it was
I am so proud of what they have accomplished on the ice and as people this year but even prouder of them for the support they gave the Canadian Olympic Team and how they were fine members of that team.
#10 – Last but not least – the men’s gold – our team and staff were in the stands when we won in Salt Lake and we were there again in 2010. What incredible pressure the men had right from the start but even more so on that final day – they were our key to Olympic history – the piece of puzzle when we could really say we owned the podium – a gold by them would vault us into the most gold ever won by a country in the winter Olympics, not to mention what hockey means to our country. Make no mistake about it – they had embraced their role in the Canadian Olympic team and they knew it was more than just winning hockey gold – it was about doing their part for the team – the Olympic team and they delivered. The Golden Goal they are calling it – what a moment and I like all Canadian Hockey Fans jumped so high I almost fell over the railing of our section. To be a part of 2002 and 2010 double gold’s is surreal but I was and how special is that.
When I started this list I was not sure I could get to 10, not I feel like I could go on forever – when you are in the moment sometimes you forget to enjoy it – I for one would not say the 2010 Olympics were enjoyable for me but they were rewarding. But as I type my top 10 I realize that I had many moments of pride and smiles so I guess I did enjoy it.
It has been 18 years since I seriously started this Olympic journey and I have met more people, had more great experiences in that time that most people get in a lifetime – the sporting world is so small, they say in life we are separated by 6 degrees – I think when you are in sport it is more like 3 degrees – how fortunate I am, how fortunate we all are!
For the next generation of Olympians – “who want it and want it now” – 18 years I have been involved and that is not counting all the formation years before that…….it goes fast so slow down, learn from every experience, realize that no task is to small and by doing it you will be better as a person and in your field.
Thanks to everyone, don’t rush yourself out of the Olympic hangover – it only happens once every four years and for the next four years we “Own The Podium” in so many ways.
I will leave you with this – as I think it sums up what we showed the world as Canadians – it is from Brian Williams (the Brian Williams from NBC) and was forwarded to me by a fellow coach
Nice words from an American about Olympic welcome. After tonight's broadcast and after looting our hotel mini-bars, we're going to try to brave the blizzard and fly east to home and hearth, and to do laundry well into next week. Before we leave this thoroughly polite country, the polite thing to do is leave behind a thank-you note.
Thank you, Canada:
For being such good hosts.
For your unfailing courtesy.
For your (mostly) beautiful weather.
For scheduling no more than 60 percent of your float plane departures at the exact moment when I was trying to say something on television.
For not seeming to mind the occasional (or constant) good-natured mimicry of your accents. For your unique TV commercials -- for companies like Tim Horton’s -- which made us laugh and cry.
For securing this massive event without choking security, and without publicly displaying a single automatic weapon.
For having the best garment design and logo-wear of the games -- you've made wearing your name a cool thing to do.
For the sportsmanship we saw most of your athletes display.
For not honking your horns. I didn't hear one car horn in 15 days -- which also means none of my fellow New Yorkers rented cars while visiting.
For making us aware of how many of you have been watching NBC all these years.
For having the good taste to have an anchorman named Brian Williams on your CTV network, who turns out to be such a nice guy.
For the body scans at the airport which make pat-downs and cavity searches unnecessary.
For designing those really cool LED Olympic rings in the harbor, which turned to gold when your athletes won one.
For always saying nice things about the United States ...when you know we're listening.
For sharing Joannie Rochette with us.
For reminding some of us we used to be a more civil society.
Mostly, for welcoming the world with such ease and making lasting friends with all of us.
Ain't it the truth - eh.
Leaving is for the answering machine.
Thank you so much for posting Mel's letters. They were a fantastic read. Sorry I just now got around to reading them. Damn computer troubles :x
Cheers,
S
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon