Running Up The Score --- Oh, Sorry!

Well, it seems that the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team beat home team Italy by the score of 16-0 yesterday. I saw the first few minutes. Canada scored five quick, unanswered goals. I went out. I ran errands. I came back later and saw the replay of the last period. It was 11-0 when the announcers started explaining how it’s not Canada’s fault that the score is lopsided. It’s not Canada’s intention to run up the score or embarrass anyone. No. It’s actually the fault of the United States of America. THEY are scoring goals, so Canada has to score goals in order to secure the home ice advantage in the game where the two teams will meet.

Canadian announcers apologizing to Canadians for Canada running up the score. It takes some getting used to. But you know, even Frank and Gordon quit playing when the score gets to 7.


Today, the women beat Russia 12-0. The announcers got off to an early start apologizing for the lopsided score, again explaining that no one wanted to hurt Russia’s feelings, but that the USA made them do it. This afternoon, an AP headline reads: “Canadians Defend Inflated Hockey Scores” and includes this, from the coach:

"That's definitely not what we're doing. We're just competing," Davidson said, adding that her team's goal is to reach the gold medal game — not humiliate anyone along the way.

"We definitely don't focus on the scoreboard. It's not about what the score is, it's about us moving the puck and making good plays. It's about success as a team. ... It is the Olympics, regardless of the score. These girls have worked hard to be here. I would take things away from our team, our opponents and everybody involved if we didn't compete as hard as we could."

The Canadian and USA women’s hockey teams do not like each other. I don’t really follow hockey and even I know that. The Canadians won a gold medal last time, in Salt Lake City. Hayley Wickenheiser, the team’s leader, appeared on (Canadian) national television claiming that Team USA had stomped on a Canadian flag in the USA dressing room.




USAHockey denied that happened. They certainly didn’t apologize for it.




It’s widely expected that Canada and USA will meet in the final, and compete once again for the gold medal, and has been since four years ago. I don’t know who to cheer for, and didn’t four years ago, either. I just can’t wait to see if anyone is able to run up the score. And if anyone apologizes.