2008 World Ice Hockey Championship (Canada)

We had been waiting for this for fifteen years – a period during which an entire generation changes. And a generation of hockey players and fans has grown up who have not seen our team at the top of the world.

A generation, the most "advanced" members of which, just yesterday, confidently spoke of the Canadians as "magicians" and "aliens." For whom the foreign and alien hockey brand "Made in Canada" means something great and bright, and our sacred, native brand "Made in Russia" is just a second-rate product.

We don't have any more of this lost generation.

But now we have a great team again, capable of winning everywhere, against everyone, and despite everything. And we are proud that this team is the RUSSIAN NATIONAL TEAM. And also – a feeling of connection to it, which brings a lump to the throat and tears to the eyes. A feeling of unity.

And yet, it all started as expected. The tired old script: the first period, and the Russian national team is "playing by the whistle." It seemed that the hosts had already achieved the desired result, which they only needed to maintain for the remaining two periods, so that later, as before, they could condescendingly praise the Russians for "almost making it," but they were a "worthy opponent who was almost lucky."

And then, it was difficult, very difficult, incredibly difficult, on the verge of possibility, – we went against the script. Step by step, moment by moment, we did something that made even the Canadians panic. For whom their reality was crumbling on their own home ice. In overtime, the reigning world champion, Rick Nash, was penalized for a violation that only happens when there is "panic on the ice" – for throwing the puck out of play. And no matter how much that American linesman ate ice, tore his striped jersey, or swore on his mother that the puck touched a Russian stick as it flew out, the European head referee made the right decision.

Thank you, Russian national team! I bow to you, Russian hockey players! Glory to you, head coach Vyacheslav Arkadyevich Bykov! And – come home soon.

www.championat.ru

Added 3 minutes ago
I will add that we fought hard for this victory. Everything was against us! But we are Russians, we are RUSSIA!!!

Added 13 minutes ago

Thank you for the information, Hero In. I think we'll "connect." I myself have goosebumps from the upcoming event.
The World Hockey Championship is a kind of state within the state of hockey. The only spectacle for which I can "jump up" in the middle of the night (except perhaps volleyball). I'm looking forward to it...

I told you that we would "connect." Already four classmates have called and said that I am a prophet (for the match prediction and confidence in victory even after the first period).