By 7:30 a.m., a line was already forming outdoors La Cage on the Bell Centre in downtown Montreal, as bundled-up followers braved the chilly for an opportunity to look at Crew Canada tackle the US within the Olympic males’s hockey gold medal sport.
“I used to be the primary in line, I bought right here at about 6:55. Prepared all day,” stated David Payne, who referred to as the early wake-up value it to help Canada.
Others weren’t far behind. “I used to be in line simply earlier than seven and there have been about 20 individuals already ready outdoors with me,” stated Jonathan, who arrived nicely earlier than puck drop.
Inside, large screens flickered above breakfast plates as followers rode each excessive and low of the ultimate. However the pleasure turned to shocked silence throughout Montreal and far of the nation as the US secured a 2-1 time beyond regulation win to seize gold.
Jack Hughes scored the winner within the further body.
“It hurts. I really feel heartbroken. I don’t even know what to say, it simply hurts,” Payne stated after the loss.
The U.S. opened the scoring within the first interval when Matt Boldy beat Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington. Canada responded late within the second, with Cale Makar getting a shot previous Connor Hellebuyck to even the sport and ship the group right into a frenzy.
Time beyond regulation, nevertheless, introduced heartbreak.
“It’s disappointing for positive,” stated Sean Lorie. “We performed an amazing sport. We had a number of probabilities, a number of empty nets we may’ve buried.”
William, one other fan watching downtown, stated Canada ought to have simply taken dwelling gold. “It’s been 30 years we hold profitable the gold medal, we should always have gained it,” he stated.
For Bobby Hamel, the Individuals had been practically not possible to beat. “The Individuals had been unbelievable, I felt like that they had six goalies on the ice,” he stated.
Regardless of the end result, some followers discovered perspective
“It was truly my first dwell hockey sport,” stated Croscers. “Canada misplaced, however they gave it the whole lot.”
“I’m a proud Quebecer however right now I’m proud to be Canadian,” stated Etienne Laurin who was amongst these packed inside La Cage at Bell Centre.
“So proud. So proud. Look how they symbolize 40 million individuals,” stated Vimal Patel who echoed the identical sense of pleasure as others watching the sport.
Canada confronted a serious lineup change Sunday morning. Captain Sidney Crosby didn’t play within the gold medal showdown as he continued recovering from a lower-body harm suffered earlier within the match. Crosby skated at apply Saturday and was thought of a game-time determination however in the end sat out the ultimate.
Connor McDavid wore the captain’s ‘C’ for the second straight sport, main a roster that confirmed resilience all through the match.
The loss comes simply days after Canada’s girls’s hockey workforce additionally fell to the US in time beyond regulation, making it a double heartbreak for a lot of followers.
The sport was performed on the anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice,” when the US defeated the Soviet Union en path to gold on the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
“It could be a lifetime dream for us to get redemption over the States — to lastly say Canada’s on prime once more,” stated Andrea, who watched the sport surrounded by fellow followers in purple and white.
Even in defeat, hope remained.
“I may say some unhealthy issues,” Payne stated with a shake of his head. “However I’m positive they’re hurting too. We’ll be again in 4 years and subsequent time we’ll win.”
