My Sunday alarm was set to 7 a.m. after a long week, and I wasn’t the only one.
My parents, my sister, my friends, and even my girlfriend — who often refers to hockey periods as quarters — had their alarms ready.
Ready for hockey. Also known as the greatest sport in the world.
Two hours later, people were calling their friends and posting on social media because the U.S. men’s hockey team defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to capture the gold medal.
It was the first gold medal for the men’s team since 1980. Wasn’t there a big game that year or something?
Yes. Not only were the Americans victorious for the first time since the “Miracle on Ice,” but the U.S. women also clipped the Canadians to secure gold.
2-0.
But someone once told me that comparison is the thief of joy. So, why do it?
Was Sunday morning the second miracle? No.
Is America better at playing hockey than Canada? Toss up.
Instead, I’d rather talk about the beautiful game, which, in some parts of the country, is considered (relatively) niche compared to, say, football.
Obviously, that’s not the case around Boston. I’ll argue with anyone that it’s a hockey city, though it’s definitely close among the Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox, and Patriots. (Six Super Bowls in 17 years tend to move the needle).
Hockey fans, myself included, take great pride in the sport. It’s fast, physical, skilled, and incredibly hard to play professionally.
You can’t take a shift off — not even for a second — or you’ll let Jack Hughes get behind you and bury the game-winner.
On a side note, I found it hilarious when Hughes, without a front tooth, said it was OK because America has “great dentists.”
Hockey is also the ultimate team sport. It’s unlike basketball, a sport in which the best players play 35-40 minutes per game, or football, in which a star quarterback is involved in every offensive play.
Basketball and football fans, don’t take that personally. Your sports have their own strengths.
But in hockey, the best players take 45- or 60-second shifts at a time. It takes 12 forwards, six defensemen, and a reliable goalie — how good was UMass Lowell alum Connor Hellebuyck? — to win a game.
Due to low scoring output, hockey also becomes immensely celebratory. It’s a big deal when you score a goal, make a save, or win a game.
A handful of celebrities, politicians, and social media figures even admitted Sunday was their first time watching — and they loved it.
Me? I’m a hockey nut. The Bruins are my favorite team, I wore a Bobby Orr jersey in middle school, and Brad Marchand is my favorite athlete of all time.
I could talk about it all day, but I won’t.
Personally, I don’t really care how people spend their time, but if Olympic hockey, the NHL, PWHL, and hockey in general grow because of the last week, I think that’s great.
The sport brings people together — even to a bar at 8 a.m. apparently (there was a raucous crowd at Tony’s Pub, for one) — and shines light on teamwork, passion, and fighting against all odds.
The Bruins return from their Olympic break Thursday. College hockey is great, too.
See you at the rink.
