VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The Vancouver Olympics end Sunday, but Canadians everywhere hope the celebration is only beginning.
In a matchup anticipated for days but never taken for granted, Canada faces the United States for the gold medal in men's hockey, by far the most coveted prize of any at these games for the host country. The Americans jolted hockey fans everywhere with a 5-3 win over the Canadians in the preliminary round last weekend, but there's a lot more at stake this time around.
"We've been building up for this for years," Canada's Jerome Iginla said. "We've talked about it as Canadians and hockey players and wanting to be a part of this team - wanting to get a chance to win a gold medal. Now we've worked hard and got that opportunity and it's nice that it's coming soon."
Only five players on the U.S. team were born the last time their country won the gold. Americans who experienced that famous victory in Lake Placid 30 years ago will never forget it, but for many younger fans, it lives on only in books, highlights and an occasional movie.
If the U.S. does win, it won't be nearly as shocking as the 1980 victory. This year's team is full of NHL players who will become opponents again after leaving Vancouver. It's a far cry from the group of amateurs that knocked off the mighty Soviets three decades ago.
"It's unbelievable the amount of excitement that's going on back in the U.S. right now about our team," American Ryan Callahan said. "I think that's good for hockey all around."
It's hard to underestimate the boost Sunday's game could provide for the NHL, which is still trying to recover from losing an entire season to a lockout in 2004-05.
"Obviously, the NHL right now is trying to get its fans back a bit," Callahan said. "I think a game like this brings everybody's excitement up, and it's good for everybody to have a matchup like U.S.-Canada in the finals."
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