Five Years

Three billion people died last night.


The only people who didn't die last night when they saw USA win the cup over Canada for the first time in five years were the players on the American Junior Team, the few die-hard USA fans remaining in the world, and all the poor and hungry people all over the world who can't afford televisions.

Everyone was rooting for Canada.

All over the world, people were rooting for Canada. Russians, Swedes, Africans, Italians, Mexicans, Jamaicans, Yugoslavians, Indians, Asians...even most of the Americans in the world were rooting for them. Even against their own team, they wanted Canada to win. Why? Because we created a legacy. We stole their hearts and held them tight to our chests for five years. We were the best. For five years running, we were the best junior hockey team in the world. We didn't brag, we didn't boast, we didn't bask in our own glory, we didn't for one second believe that each and every game we played wasn't going to be the hardest of our lives. We took all the challenges that were constantly heaved at us and we threw them right back in their face. For five years, we worked harder than any other team on and off the ice. For five years, we never gave up or quit or got down on ourselves. For five years, we had each other's backs. For five years, we could conquer anything. For five years, we were the International Ice Hockey Federation World Under-20 champions. For five years, we wore the Gold.



Shit happens.



Here's to five more.