There are very few rivalries in sport that can captivate an audience like hockey’s USA vs Canada. For decades the two countries that share a boarder have engaged in a Battle Royal for supremacy in the world’s toughest and fastest sport. In recent years, Team Canada has dominated the sport at the international level but that won’t deter Team USA from trying to take out this year’s International Ice Hockey tour.
For two special nights the newly built Perth Arena was transformed into an ice rink that even the NHL would be proud of for the highly anticipated Canada vs USA showdown. The Douglas Webber Group and not-for-profit Stop Concussion foundation teamed up to bring the tour to Perth to not only showcase the talents of players from the NHL, CHL and ECHL, but also help raise awareness and educate people on the effects of concussions in sports.
Team Canada’s Captain, Andrew Gordon, was more than happy to take the trip Down Under to help promote a good cause and to enjoy what Australia had to offer.
“To get a chance to come to Australia in the first place is an amazing opportunity and to represent my country, Team Canada, is kind of special.” Said the Right winger, adding “I had a very long season. We went really deep into the playoffs this year, took a couple weeks off and this is going to be a nice little vacation as well. It seemed like meshing a vacation with hockey and the charity event that’s going on helping prevent concussion and bring some awareness and money to the research. It’s a phenomenal cause, there are a lot of factors that came into it but coming to Australia is not an opportunity you say no to.”
The universally recognised sporting rivalry between Canada and USA was clearly a big a draw card and had fans buzzing in anticipation. The rivalry would not only live up to expectations but would also deliver a signature part of the game, the hockey fights.
Team USA Captain, Ian Cole, believed there would be a good chance that fans wouldn’t be left disappointed and they would more than likely see what they were hoping for. “There might be a couple of fights,” commented the St. Louis Blues defenseman. “I think it will still be for the most part pretty friendly, but there might be a little bit and from what I hear Australians like it when it boils over a bit.”
With the stage set for a show down that Perth fans wouldn’t soon forget, the weekend started off with a bang, literally, with the players being welcomed onto the ice by a 13,000 strong crowd along with an impressive pyrotechnics display.
Game one in Perth saw both teams get off to a slow start but Team Canada were able to snag themselves the opening goal of the tour when Bryan Cameron found the back of Steve Summerhays’ net and scored the lone goal of the first period.
The second period, however, is where things really got heated and the crowd were brought to their feet when Sebastian Geoffrion (USA) and Kevin Harvey (CAN) dropped gloves and proved that things weren’t quite as friendly as first thought… and proceeded to trade blows.
The action packed period continued with a goal tug-of-war and the crowd fast becoming familiar with each nation’s goal anthem- “Chelsea Dagger” of Team Canada and “Born in the USA” for Team USA sounding when the teams added to their growing tally.
By the end of the period, Canada had managed to add five more goals to their one goal from the first period, while Team USA kicked off their campaign with four goals.
The US got down to business early in the third period, tieing things up at six goals apiece. The U-S-A chants started to echo around the arena but the joy was shorted lived when Canada replied with two goals of their own to set up a tense conclusion to the game. Tempers once again boiled over when Justin Sawyer (CAN) and Kip Brennan (USA) scuffled. Iit was to be Team Canada’s night and with less than 90 seconds to go they capped off an excellent win with another goal ending the game with a score of 9-6.
Game two once again saw the Perth Arena full to capacity. Canada continued from where they had left the previous night by opening the scoring in the dying minutes of the period which also highlighted a spectacular trading of punches between US Defenseman Kevin Lind and Canadian Forward Blair Riley which brought the Perth crowd to their feet.
Team USA composed themselves and got off to a quick start in the second period by getting on the board and tying things up at one apiece. But it was Canada who were able to take a strangle hold on the game and found the back of the net three times, closing out the period 4-1.
Canada continued to rub salt into the wounds of their southern neighbours, with Chelsea Dagger once again blasting , making the score 5-1 early in the period. The locals got a real buzz when former Perth Thunder import and USA forward, Michael Forney, was awarded a penalty shot. The Hockey Gods weren’t pulling in his favour and he was unable to get his shot past Tyler Bunz who put in a solid performance all night. The game finished with Canada recording their second win of the weekend 5-1 and taking a 2-0 tour lead.
By the end of the weekend the near 26,000 old and new hockey fans were left with smiles on their faces and well entertained. The tour had delivered what it had promised. Luckily, fans won’t have to wait for their next taste of hockey. They can extend their excitement at Perth Thunder home matches July 26th and 27th and August 16th and 17th.
|
ICE DOGS
RHINOS
ADRENALINE
BEARS
THUNDER
ICE
BRAVE
LIGHTNING
NORTHSTARS
MUSTANGS
