The Olympic Blog

HOWDY!!!!

Okay, pipe band news in short... we're busy, working hard, practicin lots!!!

Now onto the news of the day. CANADA KICKS ASS!!!

I've always felt that our country has an incredible patriotism locked away in each of us. We just don't know that everyone else in the country shares the same feeling. We take great pride in our country, and especially not bragging about it.....

But then there's hockey.....

BOOO YAAA!!!!

The Olympics have been an incredible success story for our wonderful country. Such a great show, great competition, and we broke a lot of records. We are all so proud.

But, perhaps the icing on the cake was the country coming together to watch the women's hockey team smash the hopes of the U.S, followed by Kevin Martin and his curling team owning the gold medal, and then the very very intense men's hockey final yesterday.

I decided yesterday to put my sticks down and head out with the boys and share in the great Canadian experience.

We headed down to the MTS Center, (Winnipeg's new arena) and joined a huge number of hockey fans watching the game on the big screen there. Willing our boys onto glory.

The first goal of the game caused an insane reaction in the Winnipeg crowd as our very own Jonathan Toews (number 16 in your program) snuck a beauty past Olympic MVP Ryan Miller to put Canada on the board. I thought the arena was gonna come down around us.

Then the tension built and the arena became scary quiet in the last second of the third period when the U.S. tied up the game at 2 a piece and we were heading for over time.

Nerves aside the whole country rallied and I honestly believe willed Syd the Kid to put that puck in the net. GOLD MEDAL BABY!!!!

After the medals ceremony, and an entire arena screaming our national anthem, we piled out into the streets, down to Portage and main to wave hundreds of flags and celebrate. Songs broke out, and chants of "SHUT IT DOWN" indication to police that there was gonna be a party in the street with or without them.

The WPS did an incredible job of keeping the mood light, allowing us to celebrate, and keeping us safe. Lord knows we needed it! Eventually Portage and Main was closed and a party/street hockey game began and went fairly late.

That's just Winnipeg!

I imagine the same sight all over the country. Such an out-pouring of emotion and pride in canada. Listening to the crowd chanting "SYDNEY CROSBY" and "JONATHAN TOEWS" or "LOUUUUUUU" new hockey heroes were born yesterday.

I doubt this gets read anywhere important, but I'd like to thank all the athletes, organizers, volunteers, and the Government who helped make the push for the podium such a success.

On a Pipe Band note, nice job Andre, and Triumph Street!!! Really enjoyed the sound of the Andante out there on the ice at the curling final!!!! Very cool!!!

I gotta go though, it's mid-term exam week here and I have an accounting mid-term in an hour.

I hope the pride and passion we've always felt, but are expressing so much right now continues.It's a great day to be Canadian, but then, it always is!!!!!!

GOLD

Sean