When the US women’s national team defeated Canada in last night’s world championship game, it broke the Canadian team’s winning streak that dated back to before the 2006 Olympics.

Some members of the Canadian media referred to last night as a ‘NOTHING’ game - since Canada had already clinched a place in the championship final prior to Wednesday’s contest.

Well, I can assure you that the players and coaches on both teams would NEVER consider a game against their BIGGEST rivals to be a ‘nothing’ game.

Each and every player on both teams lives for those few precious opportunities they get during the year to play against their North American rival.

They work as hard as they can all year-round to prepare themselves both mentally and physically for these games

For those players who are making their 1st appearance with their national team, they have been waiting their whole lives to play in a game like this.

Truth be told, Canada and the US could play a road hockey game in the parking lot and it would be the most tightly contested game in town.

In reality, there has NEVER been (and will probably NEVER be) a game between Canadian and American women’s teams that has meant ‘nothing’.

And you can be sure that no sane member of the media would dream of saying that Saturday’s rematch means nothing.

Because that gold-medal game will mean ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING to these players… that is, until the 2 teams meet again.

Until next time,

Kim