Not too long ago, Patrick Kane and company were suiting up in the USA locker room, ready to face three of his teammates, including his NHL captain Jonathan Toews, and two of the most dynamic defenders in the sport of hockey, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Needless to say, team Canada was thought by most to be the overwhelming favorite, considering the three Blackhawks mentioned above are not even the club’s premier players. In fact, Team Canada is lead by a much scarier exterior of “Syd the Kid Crosby”, Dany Heatly, and two seemingly unbeatable goaltenders in Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo. However, it was the Americans that stood victorious, with Brian Rafalski and his two goals leading the way.

As I watched the contest between USA and Canada come to a close, and feeling an immense amount of patriotism towards my red, white, and blue. I never thought I would hear the nation, often considered to be America’s little brother chant, “We want USA! We want USA!” Nevertheless, that was the cry of Team Canada fans as the team narrowly escaped the grasp of Marrian Hossa’s team Slovakia. As if to steal the words right from Charles Dikens’ Oliver Twist’s mouth, “please sir, I want some more!”

On Friday afternoon, the Americans dominated Finland, and essentially won before the first intermission with a commanding 6-0 lead, and two goals for Kane, who has seemed sluggish in the tournament until midway through the first period.  This is not a surprise; the night before he flew to Vancouver, Kane collided with Anton Stralman of the Columbus Blue Jackets and struggled to get to his feet. Although he shook off the hit, questioning his productivity in the Olympics was a legitimate concern, and looking back at his performance until yesterday (one point in four games), it seemed to be somewhat of a factor. He appeared slow skating and unproductive in terms of getting the puck towards the crease and in the net. In fact, head coach Ron wilson appraised Team USA’s top line of Patrick Kane, Paul Stastny, and Zach Parise as lacking chemistry. Therefore, he moved Kane from the top line and replaced him with Jamie Langenbrunner in the third period against Norway. Despite a supposed lack of chemistry and energy, team USA received help from outstanding goaltending in Ryan Miller, and aggressive skating to the net, especially from Zach Parise and Phil Kessel. And, as what was hoped to be one of their most tenacious players was slowed, seemingly by a non-serious injury, after a few weeks, he seems back at full strength scoring two spectacular goals against Finland.

This is what should scare a Team Canada, that has had what some might call a disappointing rollercoaster of a tournament with extreme highs and lows. With the exception of a few dominating games over Germany and a scary Russian team, headlined by Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin, Canada has seemed to struggle. Most notably Canada struggled to fend off a mediocre Team Switzerland, narrowly edging them out in a 3-2 shootout victory, and a 5-3 loss to its big brother south of the border. Despite what seems to be a much weaker team than expected, Canada should not be taken lightly, as they destroyed what many viewed a gold medal favorite in Russia, 7 to 3. Team USA cannot let its guard down.

Make no mistake Canada, America is not the cute, fuzzy hockey team you once thought. For under its cute and cuddly exterior, it has a nasty, and prickly underside, that is yet to be beat. Just as America should make no mistake in misjudging Team Canada and its ferociously stacked roster and starving attitude. Starving for gold……. for revenge.

Sticks will clash for the opening face-off at 3pm Eastern time on Sunday, February 28.