In my previous post, I mentioned that the 2010 Olympic ice hockey tournament would lay claim to some instantly classic games.  There’s honestly too much talent for that not to be the case.  Here are some past definitive moments to whet your appetite for what’s to come in two weeks:
 
Sweden Wins Gold in 1994 Via Shootout

Maybe I’m biased, but everything sounds better with Mike Emrick.  I wish he announced my life.  John Davidson can do color.  He makes a great comment at the 2:45 mark, “The most famous save in hockey history for the country of Sweden.”

When I was a kid, I thought this moment was great – they immortalized Peter Forsberg with a stamp!  – but here’s to hoping the Stanley Cup is never decided via shootout. Remember Brodeur vs Hasek in that 1994 Quarterfinals duel between the Devils and Sabres? Or Game 5 of the 2000 Finals?  Coincidentally, both ended up being 1-0 defeats for Jersey’s Team, but the shootout would have stolen the luster from each of those games. What do you think?

2002 Gold Medal Game Canada vs USA


This was in Salt Lake City and the Canadian fans were LOUD.  I can only imagine what the decibel level going to hit in their own backyard.  How about that save by Brodeur at 4:19?  Wayne Gretzky looks like a little kid during his celebration.   This is the guy who did EVERYTHING there was to do in the game of hockey, and then invented other things to do in hockey and did those, too.  And there he is, jumping up and down like a 3rd grader who got a new 10-speed on Christmas morning. You don’t really see that kind of excitement from the winners, champions and heroes in other sports.

Here’s another great Canada vs. USA moment. Though it’s not Olympian, the 1996 World Cup of Hockey could serve as a preview of things to come in Vancouver.

Thought the fans were rowdy in Salt Lake?  This rambunctious Montreal crowd blows the roof off after every Canadian goal.  At 3:34, you can see a baby-faced Martin Brodeur celebrating Adam Foote’s goal.  Hard to believe that was almost 14 years ago…

Can you really have any sort of Olympic hockey highlight reel and not include this?

So many people forget that the Americans still had one more game to win, which turned out to be a 4-2 come-from-behind victory against the Swedes. Can Jamie Langenbrunner lead this Team USA – 30 years later – back to El Dorado? We'll find out in less than a month...

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