GOLDEN DAY IN SOCHI
Anahim Lake cheers hometown boy to win
B. C.’ s Carey Price gets shutout in 3- 0 win over Sweden
Canada’s 3- 0 victory over Sweden to win back- to- back Olympic gold tasted particularly sweet in British Columbia.
The victory set off celebrations across hockey- crazed Canada, but no more so than in remote Anahim Lake in B. C.’ s Interior, where goalie Carey Price grew up.
“We were saying how crazy it is that someone we all knew and grew up with, at this moment, he’s the best goalie in the world,” said Leslie Witt, who went to school with Price. “We’re very proud of him.” Witt watched the game with her husband Mike, and parents Joyce and David Dorsey.
She said the tiny community — which is nearly a five- hour drive to the nearest town of Williams Lake — went a little hockey crazy during the Olympics, including her mom who is not usually a hockey fan. When Canada has been playing, there have been no custom ers in the store where she works, Witt said.
Price, who plays for the Montreal Canadiens, stopped 24 shots on the way to the shutout in the final.
Team Canada superstars Jonathan Toews and Sidney Crosby provided goals, their first of the tournament, and Chris Kunitz added a third.
Price was among a strong contingent of B. C.- grown Team Canada members that included Shea Weber, Jamie Benn, Duncan Keith and Dan Hamhuis.
Weber, a defenceman with the Nashville Predators, grew up in Sicamous in B. C.’ s southern Interior and had an assist in the final game. Weber also got the game winner in Canada’s 2- 1 victory over Latvia.
Victoria’s Jamie Benn, the captain of the Dallas Stars, scored the lone goal in Canada’s semifinal 1- 0 win over the U. S.
Duncan Keith, a defenceman with the Chicago Blackhawks, completed his minor hockey career in Penticton. Dan Hamhuis, a defenceman with the Vancouver Canucks, grew up in Smithers.
Hockey- crazed Canadians from coast to coast thought nothing of an early morning start and streamed into bars — and even a Halifax church — on Sunday to watch and triumphantly celebrate Team Canada’s gold.
Snowy weather, no booze and an early 4 a. m. game time didn’t stop the outpouring of jubilation at a downtown Vancouver sports bar.
David Addison stayed up all night to make sure he’d get a spot at the Sin Bin Sports Grill and said the fact the taps were dry due to provincial liquor laws didn’t take away from a fantastic win.
“The energy in there is electric,” said Addison pointing to the crowd in the bar.
“We’re just going to high five and hug a bunch of strangers and feel really, really awesome.”
The diehard crowd at the Real Sports bar in downtown Toronto exploded in an ear- splitting roar as Canada topped Sweden 3- 0 to win its second consecutive Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey.
Beer — which began flowing when the puck dropped thanks to relaxed liquor rules — was tossed into the air from red hockey- boot mugs, while revellers mounted chairs and tables in unbridled joy as red- and- white streamers fluttered down on them.
Superfan Mike Berks knew what to wear for the big game — a hockey helmet mounted with a working red goal light — and didn’t give a second thought to getting up well before sunrise for the gold- medal contest.
The hockey faithful jumped out of their seats and waved flags over balconies at a two- storey sports bar in downtown Halifax just before the final buzzer. A local church even took fans into its pews to watch the contest.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper also honoured the hockey heroes.
“Today’s exciting victory by this exceptional group of players has demonstrated once again that hockey truly is Canada’s game,” he said in a statement.