It's a sad day in Canada

For the second time since I've been here, in a major tournament a Canadian hockey team has lost to an American hockey team on Canadian ice. A professor suggested today that the sluggish response of the class was a result of everyone mourning the loss. A classmate pointed out that at least one of us wasn't sad. All eyes shifted to the American in the room. I'd love to gloat, but it feels a little hollow considering how little I know about hockey compared to how much the Canadians know.

The first week I was here I was in the commons room watching a little TV. There were a couple of nice Canadians there watching the final of the World Junior Hockey Championships. This is an international tournament of under 19 hockey players...the Future of the NHL. The tournament takes place from December 26 to January 5 each year and it is a Canadian holiday tradition to watch. While I was watching the final almost everyone passing by in the hallway stopped in to see what the score was. Everyone knew about this game...except for me.

This year Canada was the heavy favorite and had already beaten the US team in earlier preliminary rounds. Other than that game, they blew everyone else out of the water. AND they were playing in Canada. The game was close, but I left early, before it had finished. The next day I stopped into a pub for some lunch. At some point the network on all of the televisions began a replay of the WJHC final game from the night before. There was an audible groan from almost every person in the bar and the bartender quickly changed the station on all the televisions. I knew from their reactions the US had pulled an upset...winning 6-5 in a dramatic shootout.

So last night, when the US defeated Canada in the Olympics on Canadian home ice I imagine there was a collective groan across the country. I wasn't watching.

I do appear to be good luck for American hockey, however. My presence in Canada must have created some cosmic hockey magic for the US. We'll see. This was only the preliminary rounds. The US and Canada may meet again before I leave.