Canada didn’t win Olympic gold in Milan last Sunday, but in my opinion, the country — which feels more divided than ever — came together.
Read more: Column: Watching Canada go for Olympic gold
Like many of my fellow countrymen, I set an alarm on my day off to watch the men’s Olympic gold-medal game between Canada and the U.S.
The loss aside, it was some of the best hockey I’ve seen in a long time. Canada may have gotten off to a slow start, but the boys were playing like champions. Again, in my opinion, we should have had it. But I digress.
Similar to Olympic and world junior championship games of the past, bars across Canada were permitted to open early.
Hundreds of hockey fans packed their local watering holes to cheer on the best in the country, hoping for a gold-medal finish.
I, on the other hand, woke up, made coffee and watched the game in my pajamas with one of our cats.
Aside from my emotional-support-couch-kitty keeping me calm throughout more than 60 minutes of hockey, I was also neck-deep in group texts with family from across Canada.
One group text included my mom and brother in Kingston, Ont., and the other comprised my dad and cousin in Camrose and Wainwright, Alta., and my aunt in Belleville, Ont.
From moments of jubilation to “Oh, come on, ref, what the heck was that?!,” it was clear all parties involved were sharing the same passion.
The group text between my dad, cousin and aunt was pre-planned after chatting during the semifinals, but the conversation with my mom and brother was impromptu.
My mom started the conversation with: “I have no idea if you’re both watching the game, but I wanted to let you know if I have a heart attack while watching this third period, I love you both.” We kept it going until Team USA’s OT goal. At that point, I turned the TV off and went to the gym to clear my head.
We may not have won the gold medal in men’s or women’s hockey, but I’d say the experience brought the country closer as a whole.
Now, we wait four years to see what Team Canada has in store for the 2030 Games in France.
Read more: Column: Being an active member of the community
