World Junior Hockey Championship 2018: Learn To Fall (Sportmanship Does Matter)

The World Juniors Hockey Championship just wrapped up in Buffalo last night, with a perfect finish to the game (if you're a fan of the Canadian team - obviously, I am).

The tournament is an annual holiday favorite. Ten countries send their best under-20 players to the host country to play first in round-robin preliminaries for standings, and then quarter-finals, semis, and the Gold Medal game.

I've only watched the Juniors over the past 8 years, and it's exciting hockey. The obvious leaders emerge as the round-robin games take place, and by the time the quarter-final games are played, the tension has mounted.

8 teams play quarterfinals, with 4 emerging to advance to the next round. Those 4 compete in semifinals, with the 2 winners advancing to the Gold Medal game, while the losing teams play each other for Bronze.

I have no trouble admitting that Canada is a strong team every year, and the 17 gold medals won by my country are testament to that (the next "most golds won" number is 4 - shared by USA, Russia, and Finland). Sure, we've experienced crushing defeats (2011 collapse comes to mind), and heartwrenching "near-wins" (last year's shootout loss to the USA). But that's hockey.

One of the reasons these games are so intriguing is that many of the participants have already been drafted by NHL teams. They won't play at the NHL level for some time, but they're "spoken for"; this makes for fun viewing, because even if a player is not on our national team, he may well be a prospect for our NHL team.

Of course, that makes it even more fascinating, as we cheer for players on our national team even knowing they have been spoken for by a rival in the NHL.

This year, the 2018 WJHC, the Canadian team lost only one game in the tournament: the outdoor game played against the USA (the USA won Gold last year, in a shootout - but that's a whole other article).

The outdoor games are never predictable because ice conditions, sun, and other factors not found in a climate-controlled arena are at play.

Still, the game was anyone's to win, and the USA took it.

But Canada won decisively in quarterfinals, beating the Swiss team 8-2. In the semifinals, they faced the Czech Republic, handily winning 7-2.

In the other semifinal games, the USA was beaten by Sweden 4-2 (in a stellar performance by the Swedish team, which scored 2 short-handed goals on the same penalty kill, 8 seconds apart).

This saw Canada facing Sweden for the gold medal, and the USA playing the Czechs for the bronze.

The game between Sweden and Canada was not expected to be a blowout, nor was it going to be easy for either team - but both teams were ready.

It remained scoreless in the first, and Canada got the first goal in the 2nd period. The Swedes, in a repeat of their short-handed goal performance from Thursday, got on the board with another shorty, tying the game.

It was late in the 3rd period when Canada got a go-ahead goal with 1:40 remaining on the clock. The Swedes pulled their goaltender, but Canada sealed the deal with an empty-net goal. Still, the Swedes played the remaining minute with strength and aggressive hockey skills, showing why they had been such a challenger from the beginning.

Canada celebrated the victory among many Canadians (or fans of the team, in any case), who had packed the arena for this last game and were sending up a deafening roar of cheers.

When it came to the medal awards, the Swedes received their silvers. First up was the Captain, Lias Andersson. He was asked to take off his helmet, which he did. Instead of having it put around his neck, he put his hand out for the medal, but didn't receive it until it was put around his neck.

What happened next shocked the hockey world and dominated social media: he immediately took off the medal, skated over to the glass, and tossed the medal into the crowd.



(A man caught it and put it on - this guy has now gone viral, especially as he removed the 2 USA jerseys he wore to reveal a Sweden jersey underneath; later, however, the medal was returned to Andersson - who, in an interview, stated he didn't want it back)

What we witnessed became a source of controversy - which is puzzling to me. Why is anyone excusing the very rude, disrespectful, ungrateful behavior of a 19-year-old who has not only been drafted by the venerable New York Rangers, but who was captain of his Juniors team?

There's no excuse for it. And yet, it became a true debate online.

People excused it because:

• He's a kid (he's 19)
• He wanted to win (no kidding - didn't they all?)
• He didn't go to Buffalo to get silver (see previous point)
• He's a competitor and didn't like losing (that's why they compete - to win)
• There shouldn't be "participation" medals in tournaments (want to change the Olympics too?)

Here's why I won't excuse it:
 

• The game was fair - the Swedes even dodged a bullet when, due to a fast whistle, the Canadian team's first goal was waved off to keep the game scoreless.

• There were no controversial calls, against either team.

• The Swedes were on the penalty kill 6 times; with Canada's power play a strong 56% in the tournament, Filip Gustavsson (in goal) and an exceptional defense corps kept Canada scoreless in all 6 power plays. And, as previously mentioned, the Swedes even scored on one of their penalty kills, tying the game shorthanded.

• The Swedes outshot Canada by 10. They held Canada to 1 shot in the first six minutes of the game.

• Lias Andersson headed a strong team whose performance should be a source of pride.

• Andersson is 19, and already a prospect of an Original Six team. If he can't lose graciously in Juniors, how will he greet the losses he will definitely face as an NHL player?

• He's the captain - captains are chosen based on their leadership skills. Leadership takes maturity, and whatever the team saw in Lias Andersson to award him the C was not present in the loss Friday night.

• None of his teammates displayed anything even remotely similar. If he can be excused by those who cite any of the points above, why did his teammates (all in the same boat) lose with grace? 

• There are plenty of other players from other teams who would have given anything just to get close to winning a silver medal, but didn't win even one game during the tournament.  

• Like it or not, there are silver and bronze medals in tournaments and in the Olympics. These are not "participation" medals (if they were, every single competitor would go home with something), they are earned by 2 other teams out of 10. 

• It should be noted that the USA celebrated their bronze medal with more grace than the captain of the silver-medal winner. Team USA knew they could have come home empty-handed like the Czech team they beat. That's sportsmanship. That's maturity.

Of course nobody wants to "settle" for silver. But if every team felt the way Andersson behaved, why come to a host country in the first place? Every player knows that he stands a chance of going home empty-handed, and yet, they still play with heart.

• The Swedes played a beautiful week of hockey in Buffalo. They remained undefeated all tournament long, amassing 11 points (to Canada's 10). They were leaders in every game, and showed poise throughout.

 So why the ugly display of immaturity in the final loss?

Disclaimer: as a hockey mom, I get the emotions. I watched my kids win and lose. I watched them in games, playoffs, and tournaments. I watched them celebrate and I watched them deal with losses. I soothed, and celebrated, and each time was a privilege - win or lose.

When my younger son was in PeeWee hockey (he was 11), his team went to the finals of the local tournament. They were "The Little Team That Could", the team that had the smallest players, the most novices - my son included - and had the fewest "stars". They won the semi-finals in an 8-round shootout that showed them pushing as hard as they could. In fact, after they scored the winning goal, a parent from the other team - a team from a South Shore town - turned to me and congratulated me, with the utmost sincerity,  for our team's performance.

The finals were different - they faced a team that was populated with large kids, experienced kids, and that had an element on the team which can only be described as arrogance.

After a goal scored by that team, their player skated past our side of the bleachers, and gloated visibly, to our bench and the stands. It was something I'd never seen before, and it was that much harder when our team lost to them.

We had an impromptu party set up - win or lose - and the boys were dejected but they were doing better than I was. I'm an emotional person and I think I was more prone to tears in this loss than the kids were. 

But I was amazed when a friend of my son's - and then my son that night - told me that they didn't like losing, but they didn't mind it because they'd played their best. What they were bothered by, however, was the arrogance of the team that won; both boys said to me, "they were poor winners and that's what made it hard to lose to them."

Age 11, and they were already showing the kind of dignity we see in leaders.

I have never watched the Juniors without a pang in my heart and a lump in my throat for the team that loses; being younger, they wear their emotions on their faces. The Swedes were, almost to a player, in tears, and comforted by their coaches as the Canadian players hugged center ice. It was incredibly hard to see - as a mother, and as a human.

But the "hold your head up high, you played a fantastic game" adage isn't wrong. They have more to be proud of than not, especially the sportsmanship they showed in the game.

And yet, their captain's display of immaturity negates that (to a point).

No, this isn't something I will hold against Andersson, but he will be remembered for this, as it became A Story in the last moments of this event. Headlines alone attest to that. And, as they say, history will remember it.

I'm not alone, either - the general sentiment is that he will, eventually, come to regret that move.

And while I don't like to brag, I will: last year, in a heartbreaking shootout loss to the USA, Team Canada was gracious and dignified.

In 2015, the Russian team lost (to Canada) and a player threw his stick into the crowd, hitting a fan. In this story, there are photos and video. It should be noted that Ziat Paigin has not been drafted by an NHL team. Whether or not it's related is unknown, but what NHL team would take a chance giving a prized roster spot to a hothead who cannot lose with dignity?

Andersson is drafted. That won't change. But if his behavior doesn't change either, he won't go far. Sports are not, beyond the scoreboard, a black-and-white/win-or lose. Even if the scoreboard is cut-and-dried, the humanity of any sports team is very much at play. If Andersson shows poor sportsmanship at the NHL level, he will become that proverbial toxin "in the room" and his teammates will not take kindly to it - nor will management.

The player who plays hard, and loses (or wins) with dignity is the player who gets respect. The player who loses (or wins) and becomes a jerk about it is met with a very different outlook by everyone: from fans to media, from teammates to other teams, from his coaches to other coaches.

As in life, there is no smooth sailing in sports. When I first learned cross-country skiing, the instructor taught us how to fall, on that first day, in that first lesson. Being younger, that made no sense to me. He said, "if you learn to fall, you can learn to get up."

Every athlete should keep that in mind. It's a life lesson, and transcends the sport. Anyone defending the actions of Lias Andersson should take stock of how they lose the everyday battles in their lives.

I'll end with a quote that was tweeted by an unrelated account just as the evening wore down:

If you wish to be out front, then act as if you were behind. - Lao Tzu

The Power of People

Something very powerful happened tonight. Around suppertime, a column was released that had mostly everyone shocked by its insensitivity and controversial finger pointing. I immediately blogged about it because I had to express my feelings and share them. Writing, for me, has always been a catharsis, a release, a therapy as well as a creative and intellectual process. I posted my blog on twitter, and was immediately met with people RT'ing (retweeting) it. I'm always honored when people do that because it is a peer recognition that never gets old.

I had people responding to me, both in my timeline and in private, and again, the compliments were as wonderful from the first to the last. It always moves me deeply to be able to touch another human heart with my writing.

We were also given a window to another heart. Julie V, metricjulie on Twitter. She posted her letter to Pat Hickey as well, revealing her own survival of sexual abuse. It is candid, heartfelt, knowledgeable and powerful. And we were given the info that the evening radio show on a local station would feature this topic, as well as a call from Julie.

I tuned in. And before the show began, well before, there were those who joined in the dialogue about what the article had done to us, for us, and what we wanted to see happen. For most, besides a retraction and apology, we wanted to see this topic become less taboo, more talked about and action taken to empower the victims/survivors.

The show began, and Julie was magnificent. She spoke about how the article had made her feel, and we all bonded yet again on Twitter as we listened to a fellow Habs fan/tweeter. Then another caller was on the line. Daniel, a fellow Habs fan, a tweeter I did not follow but whose tweets I had seen RT'd from time to time. He was inspirational. Daniel talked about his own sexual assault at the hands of his father, and mentioned how hard it is to go to the authorities when something like that happens. He said something that broke my heart: he said he knew his sister was being victimized as well, and said "I guess that makes me guilty like Pat Hickey says."

I won't talk about the article here but I was starting to see how it could have a negative effect on people.

I will talk about the positive. Suddenly, I was drawn to Daniel's story, and to his strength, and immediately hit "follow" on his twitter account. I tweeted (and followed) Julie, thanking her as well.

And a conversation ensued. We were listening to the show, where dialogue was serious, important, and open. We were bonding on twitter, with people we were listening to as well as reading (from the hosts to the callers). We were resolving to make this world better by taking action when we could, bringing awareness as we can, and just making life more positive by dismissing negativity.

I tweeted: "Folks, we are witnessing something very powerful here tonight." I felt like literally group hugging the people I was in conversation with, some I'd known from before, some I had just begun to follow on Twitter. I felt this light being lifted from what had been a confusing, dark mood, and I saw that the power of people - brought together by social media and a polarizing force - is stronger than any attempt to tear others down.

I read people tweeting Theo Fleury in support, in solidarity, and in thanks for his voice in this area. And I felt more hopeful about the future of humanity brought together by strengths, resolve, survival, and yes, technology.

What is even better is that this is only the beginning. I know those I spoke with tonight will keep up the good fight. And this gives me hope, most of all, for the future my children are going to experience.

Thank you to James, Cathie, Dave Kaufman (whose show highlighted this topic tonight), Marc, and Jay - as well as the aforementioned Julie and Daniel. I will have closed my computer with an incredible sense of optimism. So many nights, during or after Habs games, that is not present. Tonight, drawn together by a common outrage and concern, we transcended the world of hockey in support of those among us who represent so much more. I will not forget tonight. I look forward to these new friendships forged from words on a page and transformed to hearts connected.

Peace to all - I've got your backs!

An Open Letter to Pat Hickey

(photo courtesy of nationalpost.com)


Today, the Montreal Gazette posted a column by resident sports writer, Pat Hickey. I like Mr. Hickey, I think his analysis of hockey (which is the sport I follow) is very keen and he knows what he is talking about.

But today's column, about NHL'er Theo Fleury, goes beyond the pale. Mr. Hickey has crossed the line by blaming the victim of sexual assault (Mr. Fleury) and he says some inflammatory, ugly and accusatory things.

I have emailed Pat Hickey (whose email can be found in the above link) and will post the letter here. I urge readers to follow my lead, and the lead of others who have already done so, and write Mr. Hickey asking for a retraction and an apology. We have to stand up for those brave victims of ANY abuse, or we will see fewer and fewer come forth. Praise them, don't criticize them.

My letter:

Mr. Hickey,

I am dismayed and disappointed by your column of December 12, 2011, entitled Theo Fleury hypocritcal for blasting justice system's handling of Graham James case. You display an utter lack of sensitivity and knowledge on the topic of sexual assault victims that not only shows a deep insensitivity but criticizes a man we should be lauding as a hero.

You claim that Theo Fleury has no right to be angry that James is free on bail because he, Fleury, did not report the coach's crimes of sexual assault. You claim that Fleury remained silent because of his status as a hockey celebrity, and that he didn't show courage. Mr. Hickey, do YOU know that this is the exact reason Theo Fleury remained silent? Do YOU know his state of mind, heart, emotions, or thoughts when it came to speaking up?

You say that "nobody should question Fleury's decision to remain silent" and yet, you criticize him for doing so. A double standard? A dangerous one, in my opinion.

Yes, if he had come forth sooner, James might have received a harsher sentence. But the fact is, sir, he did NOT. For his own reasons. And yet, instead of applauding him for speaking up at all, you denigrate him for not doing so in a timely manner.

As anyone who has been the victim of any assault will tell you, there is a sense of shame, of stigma, of guilt, confusion and terror that are all wrapped up in the aftermath of being victimized. Victims sometimes feel they may have done something to encourage, or deserve the assault and nothing could be further from the truth.

And yet, you purport to know why Mr. Fleury remained silent. Unless he has stated those reasons himself, unless he told you personally, how can we even know? And no matter the reasons, can anyone on this side of the fence blame him??

So often, victims remain in the realm of their abusers; there is a fear that cannot be defined. No one has the right to state that there is a prescribed reaction time or fashion; every victim is different, every victim suffers in his/her own way and no one can be faulted for reacting differently from another in the same situation. Yet, you blatantly compare Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Fleury, stating one is the hero and the other, the enabler. THAT, Mr. Hickey, is the most appalling of all. You have, in effect, blamed the victim here. Has Theo Fleury not suffered enough? Now he has to absorb your accusations and perhaps struggle with another form of guilt? Do you not think he has already questioned having stayed silent for so long?

You write as though you know Fleury's state of mind. You state he must know the meaning of the word "enabler" - how can you put yourself in his shoes unless you, yourself, have walked his path? How can any of us?

Furthermore, you state "...if we have to find a poster boy for abuse, we can do better than Theoren Fleury." Let me counter: we need no "poster boy" for abuse. Your flippancy astounded me.

But I will counter with more: Theo Fleury, on Twitter and in the public eye, has brought awareness to the topic of sexual abuse (not only in sports but everywhere) in ways that others cannot. He has used his celebrity and his ability to interact with social media to make sure the world knows how insidious a practice sexual assault is, how it must be stopped, and how to help recognize victims. I say, if we DID need a poster boy for abuse, give me Theoren Fleury any day! At least he is using his celebrity for some good, instead of slamming others who are not yet strong enough to come forth!

Mr. Hickey, in my opinion, you must retract your column. You must not only apologize to Theoren Fleury, but to victims of assault and abuse everywhere. To let this column stand would be a travesty of journalism, of decency, and of humanity.

Respectfully,
Lissa Albert
Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec

Doomsday for the Habs!

It's the cusp of 2012. The Year Of The End Of Days. Okay, maybe the Mayans were off by 12 months. Maybe we're seeing it now.

After all, the Habs have lost more than they've won, they can't beat even the puniest teams, and they're hardly in playoff position at 2 points shy of a spot. The coach is letting his ship sink without so much as a Titanic effort to lock himself in the control room and go down with the rats. The manager is remaining as quiet as the Ghost he is often called, and where is the owner of the team? Taste-testing his beer? Wake up, guys, this is DOOMSDAY!

Now. Everyone take a breath. Our Habs haven't done what we'd hoped - nay, expected of them this season. They haven't dominated, they haven't dazzled, hell, they haven't even won! So let's just bury 'em in the rubble of their failings and go find us another team, huh?

Or...

We can be the true Habs fans we are so proud to embody: we can bemoan the losses, analyze the failings, certainly cry in our bières and then look forward to the next game with the hope and optimism that comes from believing in a team - not just any team, OUR team.

We can stop calling for heads to roll. We can stop marking the end of a season that is barely 2 months old. We can definitely STOP making blasphemous comparisons between our team and *shudders* the Leafs.

And we can band together and support a team that is obviously struggling. After all, what's the worst that can happen if we do that, we'll be disappointed with a loss? Look at the BEST that can happen: we can celebrate as a cohesive fanbase, supportive of our team, proud when they win, and accepting when they lose.

I know what will greet me when this blog gets posted:

• We are deserving of a better team.

Of course we are. Every fan is. Do we have a team that sucks? I, for one, am not prepared to say that. I never am. And never will.

• You need to be realistic, not so optimistic all the time.

Maybe I AM being realistic. I see the team's struggling, I'm sad when we lose, and I sure as hell would like to see the world hold my Habs in the high esteem we've enjoyed before. But there are worse qualities than optimism, folks.

• Statistically, we have no chance of making playoffs.

Statistical rules were made to be broken. Our Habs have broken many in the past and will do so again. And - worst comes to worst - if we don't make playoffs? Next year is another year. At least we've enjoyed playoffs for so many years when other teams are resigned to never seeing post-season play. Constantly. Chronically. And a new season, new lessons learned, not such a dismal future.

• We're the Habs, we should be better, with our history, our longevity and our experience.

And ya know what I say to that? We're Habs fans. We're strong and proud, we're together and loud, we're historically known too. Are you ready to silence your voice? Are you going to crawl under a rock of shame because the team is struggling? Do you not want to be part of something positive instead of wallowing in every loss? Are you ready to throw YOUR team under the proverbial bus?

• Shut up.

Well, there are those who will think, post, repeat that retort. And that one has no answer, so I won't even bother. Oh, and I won't shut up.

I will NOT bury my team. I will - realistically - admit that we've turned in some dismal performances. What, you've never bombed on a test before, only to go onto graduation? Pick yourselves up, loyal fans, stand with the proud and the optimistic, it's lighter on this side, and we have cookies (even if they DO cost $12 at the Bell Centre)! And if you want to boycott games, I will gladly relieve you of your sucky tickets to see a sucky team suck. </tongue-in-cheek>

Two more things:

GO HABS GO!

BELIEVE!

Opposite Side of the Emotional Coin

(photo created by me - to express the City's heart this week)

There have been a lot of emotions running rampant in my city this week. Since The Hit on Canadiens' forward Max Pacioretty by Boston Bruins' Zdeno Chara, hockey fans - and many non-hockey fans - have gone from shock, to fear, anger to outrage, confusion to utter mystification. Yesterday's news that Patch was home brought hope and relief. Letters from Air Canada to the NHL, and Geoff Molson to the home base brought a renewed sense of empowerment. The news that the Montreal police were investigating the Hit brought everything from amusement to derision. And bloggers streamed into my Twitter timeline from Habs Inside/Out's Dave Stubbs after The Hit and after The Decision, to Kyle Roussel, Sports Illustrated's (and Montreal's own) Michael Farber and Montreal Gazette's Red Fisher. The emotions ranged from low to high on every front, and as each blogger weighed in, emotions were renewed.

But what struck me most profoundly of all was the solidarity we were all experiencing. Montreal is a hockey city, and I've never been more aware of that since my hockey awakening began with last season's playoff run. But this week, as we all tweeted (2 days where hundreds upon hundreds of tweets updated by the second and I made many new Twitter friends), posted on Facebook, called into radio shows, emailed one another, and kept abreast of the story online, I felt a pride that was only strengthened by our togetherness.

We were banding together in positive energy sent to MaxPacs. We bonded over the anger that his assailant got off scot-free. We agreed on analogies comparing street thugs and hockey bullies, criminal behavior vs "part of the game", and we shared our resolve to have our voices heard as fans, fanatics and humans.

I found myself reflecting on my city. My City. Montreal's been home to me all my life, but I've seen it in a new light being a new fanatic of the game of hockey. I watch American broadcasts of our games and swell with pride when they show pictures of downtown, the Bell Centre, and talk about our history - hockey and non-hockey related. I travel the subway with my kids, on the way to a Habs game, and feel At One with every other attendee going my way, wearing the bleu-blanc-rouge. I talk to people from other cities who, even if they root for another team, laud the electricity felt at the Bell Centre. I go to games and feel a new awareness of how lucky I am to live in a city which has a European flavor, a metropolitan buzz, and yet sometimes - like this week - boils down to a village mentality where we are all one with each other.

So instead of blogging anger (which I still feel) or loathing (which is now stronger than I thought I'd feel toward another team and its fans) or disgust (if I even qualify that I WILL blog about it), I would like to share my profound love of being a Montrealer, my extraordinary pride in my city and its citizens, and my continued support for my team, its players, and the fans who help make Loving My Habs that much more of a global experience.

Go Habs Go!!!