Goaltender Ryan Miller's Olympic Mask created a lot of buzz before he even took the ice in Vancouver.
Ryan Miller was incredible! Team USA was incredible!
Martin Brodeur was incredible! Team Canada was incredible!
Only one team could survive in a stadium packed to the brim with colors of both countries blanketing the arena while echoes of “GO, CANADA, GO!” were met with, “USA! USA! USA!”
The arena in Vancouver was picture perfect. The sounds were incredible. The game was the stuff of legend.
It was “tremendously tremendous”…to quote the broadcast.
It was incredibly incredible, phenomenally phenomenal, unbelievably unbelievable, miraculously miraculous…you get the idea.
Even so, a magical performance by Team USA on the ice, particularly by goaltender Ryan Miller, is carried out in 60 minutes just a day before the 30th Anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the greatest sports story ever to occur.
Do you believe in miracles?
I wasn’t alive. You probably weren’t either. Regardless, the United States has won the division and the right to a bye in the first round of competition.
Ryan Miller, currently the best goalie in the NHL, sports his Olympic Mask in practice for the Buffalo Sabres just before the Olympics Games. (Photo Courtesy of Marilyn Sarvis)
The star of the game, Ryan Miller, didn’t even get to sport his full mask. His catchphrase “Miller Time” was covered up by order of the IOC. His other tribute, “Matt Man” was threatened as well.
“Matt Man” is a tribute to his late cousin who passed in 2007 due to complications with a bone marrow transplant which was necessary to treat Lukemia.
“I’ll contest,” Miller said. “My aunt and uncle and my family, it’s important to them. It’s important to me.
“I’m going to stand up for that.”
Even back-up goaltender Jonathan Quick was forced to cover up his “Support the Troops” logo.
Miller’s play on the ice so far for Team USA, regardless of the IOC’s reluctance, has been a far better tribute to his late cousin. His team has won three straight, cleaned out the division, and will await their fate in the playoffs having earned a bye in the first round.
There’s plenty of hockey still. Peter Forsberg and Sweden take on their rival Finland complete with Flyers’ defenseman Kimmo Timonen tonight at midnight on MSNBC. Then, after the seedings are taken care of, the first round can begin. Team USA will be watching and waiting for their next opponent. It’s not over yet. There’s no time to fully celebrate this incredible accomplishment, but the hope for Olympic Gold is sweeping America, now stronger than ever after witnessing one of the best hockey games in Olympic history.
