‘This is going to be the main course’

MILAN — The long and winding road to getting NHL players back at the Winter Olympics has led to this magical, marquee moment in Milan.

Sunday’s single-game showdown for gold-medal glory between Canada and the United States (7 a.m. CST) is the stuff of hockey heaven.

“I think if 4 Nations taught us anything, it’s how beautiful this game is and how intense it is. And if that was the appetizer, I think this is going to be the main course,” Canadian coach Jon Cooper said following Saturday’s practice.

Dig in and fill your bellies, hockey fans.

There is a buffet of delicious storylines, beginning with the highly anticipated rematch of that incredible best-on-best event one year ago, which ended with Connor McDavid scoring in overtime against Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to deliver Canada the title.

Now, a bigger stage. Brighter lights. Higher stakes. And what might just be a record-setting audience tuning in from all corners of the globe — including coast to coast in Canada, where one of Saturday’s biggest decisions was whether to set an early alarm clock or simply stay up all night.

To quote legendary broadcaster Bob Cole: “Oh, baby!”

“We know what’s at stake here. We know there’s 40 million people at home on the edge of their seat waiting for this to happen,” said Cooper.

“When you’re in it, you’re not realizing (what’s happening with) everybody around you and how important it is to them. I think that is healthy for us. (To see) how much people care. It’s just a reality check. And it just makes you proud.”

The province announced Friday bars and restaurants would be able to open early and serve alcohol for watch parties, suggesting this will be anything but a sleepy Sunday in Canada.

The players can feel it too here in Italy. There was a “children on Christmas Eve” feel to Saturday’s media availabilities with both teams. Everyone seemed to have a sense of occasion.

“It’s gonna be a big-boy game,” said a beaming Tom Wilson. “It’s one of the best rivalries in sports — especially in hockey — in the world. It’s going to be a battle, a lot of fun.”

Wilson said he’s seen videos of schools showing last Wednesday’s dramatic quarterfinal win over Czechia and Friday’s thrilling semifinal victory over Finland, and that it brought back cherished childhood memories.

“It’s not that long ago that you were the kid in the classroom when they wheeled those old big TVs in. You put the antennas up so you can get the signal and watch Team Canada play,” he said.

“I remember being there and seeing your local rink with watch parties cheering you on. And that’s why we’re here. We’re here for our country. We’re here to try and make them proud. It’s not about us. I think if you ask any single guy in that room, it’s way bigger than us. All I can do, all we can do at this point, is just leave it all out there for our country.”

Wilson, who is married to Winnipegger Taylor Pischke and is the father of a 21-month-old son, said it’s impossible not to think about the bigger picture.

“We’re trying to make our country proud and I’m trying to make my younger self proud and I’m playing for my kid and my wife, my whole family,” he said.

Wilson already has a Stanley Cup to his name, winning it in 2018 with the Washington Capitals. How might a gold medal compare?

“You have two dreams basically. As a Canadian kid you want to win a Stanley Cup for whatever team you’re playing for. You never know at eight years old what team you’ll be playing for. And the other one is you want to win a gold medal like all the Canadian kids did that I grew up watching,” he said.

“Now I have the opportunity to do that. Emotionally, just focus on your game. Emotionally, you just want to make sure that I play the best Team Canada, Tom Wilson game that I can play. And every single guy in there is going to do that. Lean on each other, depend on each other and if we do that we’ll give ourselves a good chance.”

Macklin Celebrini, the 19-year-old sensation who leads his star-studded team in goals, was just three years old the last time these countries met for Olympic gold — in his own backyard, no less. The Vancouver product says he’s watched video of the 2010 game repeatedly, which ended with Sidney Crosby’s iconic “Golden Goal” in overtime.

Now, a chance for him and his teammates to give a new generation something to remember.

“It’s amazing. I remember being those kids, just watching on TV. Rooting for Canada. Cheering. To be able to contribute to that, those memories and for those kids that are looking up to us is pretty cool,” said Celebrini.

“Whenever you represent the Maple Leaf, whenever you represent Canada, it means something more than usual. We’re going to go into that game doing everything we can. That rich history of winning and what it means to our country, and all the people back home. We just want to make everyone proud.”

Hellebuyck, the reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner, will be seeking some ice-cold revenge alongside his teammates. Jordan Binnington, who stood tall in the Canadian net in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, will again be in the opposite crease.

You have hockey’s two best defencemen — Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes — going head to head. You have McDavid, Celebrini and Nathan MacKinnon on one side; Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and the Tkachuk brothers on the other.

You also have the impossible-to-ignore political backdrop between the two nations, though players were eager to steer clear of that hot-button topic.

“I’m not going to get into all that. This is hockey and we’re excited about that,” said McDavid.

There is added intrigue as puck drop approaches. Crosby, who hasn’t lost a step since that historic snipe 16 years ago, missed Friday’s semifinal against Finland and is considered a game-time decision with a lower-body injury.

Of course, the Americans are feeling the same electricity.

“The excitement is through the roof for this group,” said defenceman Charlie McAvoy. “Everybody’s just ready to go. We’re so jacked up in there. It’s just a chance to make a dream come true tomorrow. We’re a great hockey team. They’re a great hockey team. It’s gonna be a heck of a game.”

The U.S. men haven’t won Olympic gold since 1980 — the “Miracle on Ice” at Lake Placid.

“The history of the sport is important, and in particular, in this instance, the history of American hockey is important,” said head coach Mike Sullivan.

“We tried to bring it to their attention, because I think what it does is it heightens the opportunity that we have. It’s a privilege to be here. It’s an honour to represent your nation. I know these guys take it very seriously. What an incredible opportunity we have in front of us. And that was the discussion we had.”

As great as this dream final is for hockey fans, especially in North America, it almost didn’t happen.

“I just want everybody to know, it wasn’t easy to get here for either team,” said Cooper.

“I think everybody thought this was gonna happen, or hoping in North America it was gonna happen, but the Swedes nearly pushed the US out. The Czechs nearly pushed us out. The Finns gave us everything we could handle. So you gotta tip your hat to both these teams and say you know what, there was adversity for both these teams to get here.”

Now, 60 minutes — or perhaps a few more — for one shot at infamy.

“You always feel that responsibility as a Canadian. We want to be the best. It’s been our game for a long time,” said Wilson.

“The guys that are pulling the jersey on, it’s our responsibility to go out there and try and prove why we’re the best and why we should be the best. And continue to be the best. That being said, it’s 2026. The Americans have a heck of a team. Their programs are obviously first class now. They’ve got some amazing superstar talent in that room.

“Pretty much every guy that would be on the ice would be a heck of a hockey player. It’s going to be such a fine margin now. Whoever plays better is probably going to win.”

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Mike McIntyre
Reporter

Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike.

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