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Canada's Sidney Crosby celebrates scoring the gold medal winning goal - Source: Reuters -
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"Sid the Kid" became "the Man" by scoring what will be forever
remembered as Canada's golden goal in a 3-2 Olympic final overtime
win over the United States on Monday to cap one of the most
compelling sporting showdowns ever seen on a sheet of ice.
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Just 22-years-old, Sidney Crosby stepped up and seized his place
among the pantheon of hockey greats with a goal that sparked wild
celebration across the length of the entire country.
It was the hosts' 14th gold, the most ever by any country at a
Winter Games, and fittingly the milestone medal was the one that
mattered more than any other to hockey-mad Canadians.
It was also fitting that the country's biggest goal since the 1972
Summit Series against Russia should come from Crosby, the
fresh-faced all-Canadian boy who will now take his place in the
hearts of his fellow countrymen alongside Paul Henderson.
In much the same way Americans can recall where they were when
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Canadians can tell you
exactly where they were on Sept. 28, 1972 when Henderson scored the
most famous goal in Canadian history.
Now a new generation of Canadians will have their own moment,
recalling where they were when "Sid the Kid" came to Canada's
rescue, swiping a wrist shot past American netminder Ryan Miller
7:40 into overtime to end an afternoon of gut-wrenching
drama.
"It doesn't even feel real, it's like a dream," Crosby told
reporters. "This is just an unbelievable feeling.
"I felt like I was getting chances, Iggy (Jarome Iginla) was
getting chances and eventually it was going to go in.
"I waited to the last possible moment so it was nice to see it go
in."
No happier
No happier than 33 million Canadians, who had been dreaming of this
day since Vancouver was awarded the Winter Games.
As Crosby drove his arms into the air, the capacity crowd in Canada
Hockey Place stood and roared, the seething sea of red exploding in
celebration which rocked the arena and thundered across the
country.
In Vancouver, hordes of people who had flooded into the downtown
core for the big game poured out of the bars and restaurants for
one big street party.
The joyous scene was repeated across the country from Crosby's
hometown of Cole Harbour Nova, Scotia to Canadian soldiers in
Afghanistan.
"I can only imagine (how the country is feeling)," said Crosby. "I
remember the way it was when they won in 2002 (Olympics).
"I remember being on my street and I'm sure it's pretty
amazing.
"You dream of that scenario. You dream of that opportunity.
"You never know if you get to this point if you will get that
chance again, so it's an incredible experience."
Opening faceoff
Canada marched on to the ice with the look of a team on a mission,
swarming on to the attack right from the opening faceoff but the
US, who beat Canada 5-3 in the preliminary rounds, would not be
intimidated.
Jonathan Toews scored the only goal in a close opening period and
Corey Perry added another in the second to stake Canada to a 2-0
lead and get the party rolling inside a pulsating arena.
The young Americans did not lie down, however, and Ryan Kesler
trimmed the lead to 2-1.
Zach Parise sent the final event of the Winter Olympics into
overtime when he scored with just 24 seconds left in regulation to
cap a determined U.S. comeback and momentarily drive a spike into
Canadian hearts.
"It's the biggest game any of us has ever been in and it's
devastating," said American defenseman Jack Johnson. "We were one
goal away from winning a gold medal."
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