Watching Gold Medal game with Our players

How do you bounce back from devastating news of our canceled hockey game? 

Sunday morning started earlier than expected, around 8:00 AM, nearly nine hours before our scheduled puck drop at UBS Arena. The plan for the day was straightforward: head to the arena, get settled in, go through morning skate and final preparations, and then focus on game time.

Instead, the entire team ended up gathering in the hotel cafeteria.

The gold medal game between the United States and Canada was on, and that changed the tone of the morning immediately. With players on our team who grew up in both countries, the room quickly turned competitive. What started as a casual watch turned into constant back and forth, with plenty of friendly trash talk and a noticeable sense of pride on both sides.

Once the puck dropped, the room locked in.

Watching a game like that with a group of hockey players has a different kind of energy. Every shift draws a reaction. Big saves, heavy hits, and close chances all feel amplified. The volume in the room seemed to rise with every sequence, as if everyone watching was mentally in the game.

When it went to overtime, the tension shifted. The room got quieter, but more intense, with every play carrying more weight.

Then came the moment that ended it.

Jack Hughes scored the winner, and the room erupted. The reaction was not just about the goal itself or even the rivalry, but about the significance of the moment. For some in the room, seeing a Jewish player score a golden goal on that stage added another layer that made it hit differently.

Our own game ended up being canceled later that day, which was not part of the plan. Even so, that morning gave everyone something unexpected to rally around. The combination of competition, shared energy, and a moment that brought the entire room to its feet stayed with us long after the game ended.