DORIAN GEIGER
Sports Editor
VANCOUVER – If I’ve learned one thing from covering the Olympics in Vancouver it’s that a scribble pad makes an impeccable umbrella.
And on Feb. 26, a day after Canada’s women’s hockey team achieved golden status, I dodged raindrops with my notepad as I rushed with anticipation towards Team Canada’s drizzly downtown press conference.
Since a hockey roster is a large entity, only four Canadian hockey players were in attendance: Jennifer Botterill, Jayna Hefford, Caroline Ouellette and the woman responsible for Canada’s pair of goals in the gold medal win, Marie-Philip Poulin.
Little did I know that by the time the press conference had concluded I would stand side-by-side for pictures with the medalists, kissed their golden prizes and personally apologized to them for the deplorable criticism directed their way by U.S. media.
Let’s rewind here for a second. So what did the media of the country who Canada defeated 2-0 the day prior have to stick up their Yankee noses up about?
Our lady Canucks guzzled a few Molson Canadian, sipped on champagne and — gasp! — smoked cigars following the championship win.
A Canadian hockey team drinking beer — unheard of, I know.
Hefford, who was part of the 2002 and 2006 gold winning teams, doesn’t regret her actions and was noticeably upset something meant to be private became so public.
“We realize we should have kept our celebrations in the dressing room,” noted the veteran forward.
“It was well after people had left the building. We had done it before and some of our favourite memories are going and sitting on the ice and getting a picture by a logo or taking in the atmosphere of the arena once everybody leaves,” explained Hefford.
Ask anyone from the local arena canteen worker to Don Cherry and they’ll concur that hockey and beer go together better than peanut butter and jelly. It’s crazy because no one persecutes the countless Canadian NHL players who drink out of the Stanley Cup on an annual basis.
Other U.S. media dubbed Team Canada’s line-up as smokers because of the victory cigars, which they’re not.
Some labelled the lady athletes as drinkers and drivers because they drove the zamboni amidst the celebrations.
Some were upset about the role model image Team Canada was conveying by allowing underage players to consume alcohol.
But at the end of the day none of these points held much relevance or credibility and made me sick to my stomach to hear such strong, patriotic Canadian athletes apologize to Canadians and the world through a variety of American journalists.
Poulin, who isn’t legal drinking age of 19 said she was too caught up in the golden moment to realize what a fuss the media would make.
“It’s so great to win the gold medal and I just wanted to enjoy it with the girls on the ice,” said a nervous Poulin.
“I’m so sorry for what happened. I’ll learn from it,” added Poulin.
I think Canadians will forgive her. After all, she has been described as the female version of Sidney Crosby.
Celebrating on Canadian soil in true Canadian style after facing immense Canadian pressure was merited and was nothing Botterill, Hefford, Poulin and Ouellette should have had to apologize for on behalf of their team.
A quick Google search of these pictures will bring a smile to your face and make you proud to be Canadian if you hail from the Great White North.
Ignorant as they come, the U.S. media fired scathing question after question, beating the issue deader than the H1N1 scare while overshadowing what was of foremost importance during the International B.C. Media Centre’s press conference.
Didn’t the Canadian women’s gold medal triumph seal our country’s eighth Olympic gold medal of the 2010 Games, breaking a Canadian Winter Olympic record?
Oh, that’s right, it did, so enough of the silly American negativity.
After directing some questions towards Botterill about Canadian goaltender Shannon Szabados’s impressive gold medal shutout, I was offered a magical opportunity — the friendly Botterill insisted I get a picture taken with her and the medal.
Not only did I embrace the rare chance to be a part of something historical, I smooched the golden token and tasted a nation’s dreams and passions as I planted my lips on the Winnipeg native Botterill’s gold medal.
Following the placement of my lucky red sunglasses on Botterill’s face for the photo op, it really became apparent these were Canada’s games.
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