Canada Wins Hockey Gold, Olympians Win Our Hearts

In Canada, little else can wake a nation from its cozy winter slumber — coast, to coast, to coast — like hockey. At 3:45am Pacific Time sleepy selfies were popping up online as young and old put on their toques, turned on the TV, and cheered for Canada. Social media connected us all and hockey made us one.

Kyle Wagner of Deadspin: “People spend their whole lives looking for something to love like Canadians love hockey.”

We weren’t Vancouver versus Toronto or the Canucks against the Blackhawks. If it takes an international tournament every 4 years to remind us of that unity, so be it, because this morning’s camaraderie and support for our nation was the stuff of which indelible memories are made.

Photo credit: kougar on Flickr

220 Olympians in 14 sports, with 25 medals. From individual victories to team triumphs for both men and women, Canada has had an amazing showing at the Sochi 2014 Olympics as athletes performed with incredible passion and made our country proud.

Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse will carry our flag at the Closing Ceremony today and once you’ve recovered from the early morning hockey wake-up call, head down to Jack Poole Plaza downtown. The Vancouver cauldron will be re-lit from 4:00pm to 8:00pm to celebrate all of Canada’s achievements at the Games.

In Vancouver, we know what it takes to make an Olympic experience happen so here’s to the volunteers, CBC Olympics broadcast team, athletes, players, and Canadian Olympic Team staff at Sochi 2014.

And remember, tune in to the Paralympics March 7th to March 16th, 2014!