Canada - USA Olympic Gold Medal Game: Hard Fought

Both the Canadian and U.S. players skated hard and played with an intense passion during the Olympic gold medal game. As the clock was ticking down on the scoreboard and the U.S. was putting on the pressure in Canada's end, I thought how great it would be to see the game go in to overtime. It did. I was watching the seconds and saw the 24.4 seconds left frozen. And then Sidney Crosby notched the game winner in overtime. Why not? He's a great clutch player and doesn't quit.

The match had the intensity of a NHL playoff game with competitors who don't get an obvious payoff from the outcome. They were playing for Olympic pride.

Canadian center Jonathan Toews called it "A game for the ages."

"This game showed all the good there is in hockey," said U.S. captain Jamie Langenbrunner to reporters. "The heart and determination everybody plays with. The battle level, the character of the athletes. It's a pretty special sport."

But as much as I enjoyed the competition, I would also enjoy seeing the Division I athletes or at least pros playing at the AHL level be the Olympic contenders. I'd like to see a TEAM USA made up of hungry combatants who normally don't get national attention in the United States and limited exposure internationally. But I also understand how the matchup is an important marketing tool. I'm not a big fan of assembling a "dream team" either in ice hockey or basketball. I don't get that excited about the U.S. Olympic basketball team, either, and yet I understand how it's an important business decision.

The Canadian victory allows Canada to boast in a sport they claim as theirs and with Sidney Crosby scoring in overtime, it made me think how he's a hockey ambassador for Canada, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the National Hockey League. It's almost eerie how Crosby will get the accolades despite the tremendous team effort.

He didn't have any points in the previous two Olympic games and he did not have any points in regulation. Yet, he fought through three defensemen, dug the puck out from the corner and quickly jumped to the net. His hard work paid off.

Overall, the gold medal match up was good for the sport in Canada and the United States. It also showed the number of classy players and was a great stage for Crosby, perhaps hockey's ambassador for many years to come.