Canadians Win Olympic Men's Hockey Gold Medal: Current Events Lesson

In a stunning victory during overtime, Canada's hockey team won an Olympic Gold medal on Canadian soil. Sidney Crosby scored the winning goal in overtime play, making the Canadian Olympic team's 14^th gold medal of the 2010 Olympic Games. The Canadian Olympic Hockey team beat the United States Hockey team by a score of 3 goals to 2 goals. Steve Crosby made the winning goal by sweeping past US goalie Ryan Miller 7:40 minutes into overtime play.

The hard-fought game was tense and scores remained close throughout the entire match. The United States Men's Hockey team tied the score 2-2 in the last 24 seconds of the game when Zack Parise scored the goal that tied the game's score, forcing the overtime play. Sidney Crosby proved that he is the top scorer of the North American Hockey league for good reason by getting the puck past American goalie Ryan Miller. The score set the crowd of 18,000 hockey fans wild, as Canadian hockey fans watched their national Olympic hockey team win Olympic Men's Hockey gold medal for the first time since 2002.

In previous hockey contests, Canada's men's hockey team beat the Slovakian Olympic Men's Hockey team by winning a 3-2 semifinal game. The United States Olympic Men's Hockey team earned the right into the 2010 Olympic Men's Hockey finals by beating Finland 6-1. Canada's Olympic hockey team had been beaten by the United States Olympic hockey team in competition a week ago.

The winning men's hockey game of the 2010 Winter Olympics is being touted as one of the best in Olympic men's hockey history, due in part to the talents and skills of Steve Crosby. Steve Crosby has had the honor to win the Stanley Cup and to be in the winning Olympic men's hockey team both in the same year. Crosby credits his team for its hard work, team effort, and determination. Even when the US team got a goal at the very end of regulation play, Canada's Men's Olympic Hockey team kept trying. That determination and drive enabled the team to win Olympic gold.

The 2010 Vancouver, British Columbia Winter Olympic Games had a few notable problems. Early in the games, a luger died during an accident. The Canadian host teams did not win as many medals as they expected to win, and there were some glitches in some of the Winter Olympic events. Canada's original goal was to win the most Olympic medals during their hosting of the 2010 Winter Olympics. But Canada did win the most gold medals they have ever won in either Summer or Winter Olympic competitions. They also have the largest number of gold medals won by any Winter Olympics host country. And Canada came in third in the total number of medals won in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. And the thrilling Canadian Olympic Men's Hockey Team win in overtime was a proud moment for Canada as Olympic host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Questions for Discussion

1. Why was Canada's gold medal win especially important to Canadians this year?

2. Why was this Olympic Men's Hockey Game especially exciting? Name at least 2 reasons.

3. According to Steve Crosby, what 3 team characteristics caused the Canadian team to win the gold medal?

4. Steve Crosby has won 2 hockey honors this year. What were they?

5. What was Canada's 2010 Winter Olympic Goals? Were they met?

6. What 2 gold medal records did Canada earn this year?

7. If you were to create a motto for Canada's 2010 Olympic Men's Hockey team, what would it be?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/vancouver_2010/ice_hockey/8540966.stm

http://www.cbssports.com/olympics/story/12989231/crosby-scores-in-ot-canada-wins-eighth-olympic-gold?tag=coverlist_active;coverlist_footer