Expats rally for gold medal hockey performance


Canadian expats crowded into Panama’s Superbook Sports Bar and Restaurant on Sunday to watch a game that for most Panamanians, was an anomaly,…the Winter Olympic (Ice) Hockey finals between Canada and the United States.
It was an event l that climaxed Canada’s most successful Winter Olympics, creating a new record of 14 Olympic gold medals . The previous record was shared by Norway, 2002 ,and the Soviet Union,1976, and it all took place on home territory far from Panama and its hockey starved fans.
But for most Canadians the holy grail is the hockey title. In a country where kids play soccer to improve their hockey moves and where hockey skates are an early symbol of approaching manhood (round about four years of age) the game is close to being an official religion.
The strength of this feeling was evident on Sunday, as the local Canucks crowded around the TV screens, beers in hand to cheer their heroes on against the favored Americans. Their only complaint, no suppy of the Canadian hockey staple, Molsons. But the Canadian flag and tee shirts were there.


On Sunday, the miracle was repeated minutes into overtime, with Canada’s winning goal scored by Sidney Crosby who watched the 2002 Olympics on television as a 14 year old. His name too will be remembered.
Meanwhile in Panama, the Canucks erupted. Not quite as vigorously as their countryman in the frozen north, where the goal was described as the shot that went around the world, and that includes Panama.
My apologies for the quality of the photos. A malfunctioning camera did not appreciate the importance of the moment. {jathumbnail off}