Olympic news hits Oilers differently
Jonesuu happy, but Bryzgalov sad for Russia
The news put a damper on Ilya Bryzgalov’s day. When Jesse Jonesuu heard the same news, it snapped him out of a 12-day funk.
The Edmonton Oilers’ Olympic break is over, but like so many sports fans around the world, the Oilers went back to work on Wednesday fixated on the Games in Sochi.
Much of the chatter for the day centred on Team Canada’s narrow 2-1 win over Latvia, but for the Russian Bryzgalov and the Finnish Jonesuu, their focus was on their own nations. Finland topped Russia 3-1 in the men’s hockey quarter-final, knocking the host Russians out of the tournament.
“While I was in Finland we were struggling really bad on medals in skiing and I was depressed a couple of days there when Sweden was winning and we were not getting anything,” Jonesuu said.
“And (on Wednesday) when I woke up I’d heard that Finland had beaten Russia and that we got gold and silver from skiing. So I guess I was the bad luck.”
“When I turned the TV on, I saw the scoreboard (said) 3-1. I was … maybe not surprised,” Bryzgalov said.
“I expect a little different result because obviously I want Team Russia to win, but Finland is a great team too, very disciplined. Team Russia always has a tough time to play against them and unfortunately for our team we can’t continue to compete in these Olympic Games.”
While it’s easy for Canadians to fall into their own hockey-centric vortex in these Games, the early- morning tilt that preceded Canada’s win meant a lot to both nations playing.
“You can’t say enough,” Jonesuu said of the significance of the win over Russia. “I read in the paper, between 1.8 and 2.2 million people had watched the game against Canada and that’s 40 per cent of the population of Finland.
“It’s obviously a huge thing to beat Russia, who is a powerful country in hockey and we’re just a little country, but it’s a proud moment for us. We take pride in hockey and this is great.”
Bryzgalov, who suited up for his country in Vancouver in 2010, said Russia’s loss would resonate the same way that a loss for Canada would.
“It’s a national game, same for you guys, for Canadians. That was our home Olympic Games and everyone wants to see the home team get the gold or at least get some medal,” he said.
“But sport especially right now, the Canadians had a tough time to beat the Latvians … it’s tough and very competitive hockey right now.”
Oilers captain Andrew Ference is looking forward to Friday’s semifinal between Canada and the United States, but he’s not just paying attention to hockey. He and his wife, former pro snowboarder Krista Bradford, have been enjoying everything the Games have had to offer them.
“I watched a ton, I love them. My wife and I watch a lot,” he said. “We obviously watch all the snowboarding. My wife has a lot of friends still competing in that.
“I definitely get Olympic fever and love watching. I’m not even a homer. It’s great when the Canadians win, but just seeing people cross the finish line in first, whatever country they’re from it’s neat to see their faces.”
In seeing his wife train as a snowboarder and in spending time over his break in Canmore with former Canadian Olympic skiers Thomas Grandi and Sara Renner, Ference has gained an appreciation for the journey that amateur athletes take.
“Thinking back to Canmore and seeing the biathletes and cross country skiers and training with them every summer and seeing how much work goes into what they do and how poorly they’re supported with their funding, it’s amazing what they do,” he said.
“To see them come out and have some success in their moment of glory once every four years, it’s amazing. It’s very cool, never gets old.”
During the break, Mrs. Ference asked the question that was bubbling in reporters’ minds as Ference professed his love for the Games.
“She asked me the other day, ‘If you didn’t play hockey which (event) would you do?’ ” he said.
“I don’t know if I could do it, but I love watching the speed skating. I don’t know if I’m tall enough for it on the long track but the short track guys, that’s pretty amazing.”
Looking at Friday’s semifinal between Canada and the Americans, Ference just wants to see the game grow under the international attention it will bring.
“As a Canadian I don’t want them to beat us, but my daughter does; she’s American,” he said. “She’s cheering for them and that’s all right. We can have a little rivalry in our house.”