“Hockey is not a sport in Canada – it’s a cult. It’s a religion”
- Brian Burke, General Manager of The Toronto Maple Leafs and the 2010 United States Olympic Team
One of the most vivid memories I have is watching a hockey game on TV. I remember exactly where I sat, I remember the emotions I felt, I remember what I was eating, I remember what I was drinking, I remember the smell of the room I sat in.
Sad? Maybe. But not to me. This was back in 2002, when Canada won the Gold Medal in Salt Lake City. Earlier in the week, the same thing happened, but I was in a very, very different place. Instead of being in a room with a bunch of my friends in the afternoon, I woke up at 4am on March 1 (February 28 in Canada) and I watched the game alone. It was one of the strangest experiences I’ve had as an expat, and left me feeling more alone than ever.
February 24, 2002: A heavily favoured Team Canada is set to go up against a Cinderella US Team cast as too old from the start of the tournament, but surprised everyone by going undefeated up to the final.
I sat in the lounge of my University residence building with some of my friends in the early afternoon. I could hear people get excited on the floor above me and below me.. It was going to be a moment for the ages.
March 1, 2010: A heavily favoured Team Canada is set to go up against a Cinderella US Team cast as too young from the start of the tournament, but surprised everyone by going undefeated up to the final.
I sat in the living room of my girlfriend’s alone in the very early morning. I could hear nobody around me so I quietly made my breakfast. It was going to be a moment for the ages.
Welcome back one and all to the October edition of 
