Is it just me? Or does everyone feel just a little more proud to be Canadian? It seemed at the start of it all that these Olympics held in Vancouver were going to one to forget. With tragedy striking on just the first day, with the death of the Georgian luger, things were not looking up. Then the Olympic torch malfunctioned, leaving Canada as an easy target for the rest of the world to poke fun at, as the country that couldn’t even light a proper flame. And then there was the issue of the snow; ie Whistler/Cypress wasn’t getting any! And then it was all forgotten on that glorious third day, as Alex Bilodeau won the first gold on Canadian soil. What a day, one I’m sure he’ll never forget. I know I won’t, nor will about 36 million other people. But as you all know now, these games will be something we will all never forget, especially the last couple of days that sent Canada into the record books.

As the rest of the games went on, it seemed all too familiar. The odd bronze, a silver here and there, and a lot of fourth/fifth finishes. Then something started happening. Canada was winning golds. We kept hearing about the COC stating that we will not meet our projected medal count, but nothing was being said about all the first place golden finishes we were having. It didn’t seem like much, but we were in fact keeping up with the US, Germany, and Norway in Gold count. It wasn’t until the last couple of days when we all started to realize, hey, we can make this OUR Olympics. With golds rolling in everywhere from pair ice dancing, skeleton, bobsleigh, curling, ski cross and speed skating, it seemed we were on the right track to head to the record books. And don’t worry girls I won’t forget to mention the Womens hockey team owning the States to win us yet another gold. In the 17th and final day of the Olympics, with 13 gold medals (a tie for the most won by a country in a single winter olympics) we had one last shot to be the sole holder of that record with another gold. Mens Hockey.

I couldn’t have written a better finish myself. In what some were calling the greatest hockey tournament of all time, Canada would face America in the final. With the USA being undefeated and the top team in the preliminary round, and Canada having a questionable first couple games, however only losing to the States all tournament, it was a match made in Heaven to battle it out for Gold. Canada vs USA. We all knew we were in for a treat, but none could have predicted what was about to happen on that Sunday afternoon in Vancouver at Canada Place. With Canada up 2-1, and the clock ticking down to under 30 seconds left in the 3rd, the unthinkable happened. An entire country let out a collective gasp as Zach Parise and the Americans tied the game. With celebration of victory in our grasp, it was gone in an instant. But what would come of this is a moment that no Canadian will ever forget. What seemed like a broken play by the referee in overtime, Crosby poked the puck back into the corner to Jarome Iginla. No less than a micro second later you could hear Crosby yell at the top of his lungs, “IGGY” as he headed for the net. In one quick sweep Iggy fed Sid the puck and in an instant it was in the back of the net. The entire country erupted. Sidney Crosby with the golden goal, probably the biggest goal he will ever score. The biggest anone has had since Lemieux in ’87, and even Henderson’s in ’72. What a perfect way to end it. We are back on top of the world in hockey, right where we should be. Here is an image that is burned into my memory, as the replay keeps playing over, and over in my head. What a goal.

Now as I watch the all the replays and recaps of these Olympics, I, like Pat Quinn, can’t help but shed a tear. We should all be so proud of our athletes, and we should all be so proud to be Canadian. We are a great nation, and there is none other out there like us. I mean, who else would poke fun at themselve like we did in the Closing ceremonies? Not Russia, that’s for sure. All in all, these games were great. I wish I could of been there in person to experience it all like a few friends of mine that got the chance. But I think I was there, in that arena especially. Along with 36 million other people, as we scored that goal, and made Olympic history. Man, I Love being Canadian!