I am posting a story that appeared in today's Maine Campus that focuses
on the Olympics and how several of the Black Bears are enjoying it.
With a few more countries knocked out of gold medal competition earlier
this morning, the Canadians will have their fun today I am sure...
By Bill Stewart
 
 
There is an Olympic-size buzz rippling through the University of Maine
men's hockey team lately, as players representing four countries have
placed their bragging rights for international dominance on the line.
The Black Bears are showered with an international flavor on their
roster and the cannons aimed at the frozen lakes for global supremacy
have been fired.
"Canada will win for sure," junior forward Bobby Stewart from Ft.
McMurray, Alberta said. "I'm not even worried about it and won't lose
any sleep over it either."
Stewart isn't the only Canadian on the team to share those sentiments.
"Canada is a powerhouse," sophomore forward Ben Guite from Montreal,
Quebec said. "Of course Canada will win."
With a team loaded with NHL stars including Wayne Gretzky, Eric
Lindros, Keith Primeau, and an unstoppable goalie in Patrick Roy,
Canada has emerged as the favorite to capture the gold.
But don't tell that to Black Bear forward Marcus Gustafsson, a native
of Knivsta, Sweden..
"Canada will choke," Gustafsson said. "They don't know how to represent
their country. The Canadians always say how Sweden can never win the
big game. All we say, though, is we're the defending champs."
Sweden took home the gold medal in the 1994 Lillehammer games by edging
Canada in a shoot-out in the title game.
Should Sweden repeat its Olympic glory in Big Hat this year, Gustafsson
has already planned his celebration.
"We'll be taking a ride in our cars around campus waving our Swedish
flags," Gustafsson said. "Notify the campus police if Sweden wins."
"I have to agree with Marcus (Gustafsson)," sophomore defenseman
Robert Ek from Lulea, Sweden said. "We'll be taking a ride around
campus."
However, the Swedes aren't the only ones who will brandish their flags
should they attain the gold.
"I have a flag, too," Helsinki, Finland native Tuomo Jaaskelainen said.
"I have lots of hope for my team."
Although Sweden and Canada have enjoyed much of the spotlight, where
does this leave the U.S.?
"I have already counted the Americans out," Gustafsson said.
"Oh, the Americans will talk about 1980," Stewart said. "They are good
for winning a gold medal once every 20 years. The next winter Olympics
they'll have a shot."
The Americans have won the gold twice (1980, 1960) since the Eisenhower
administration.
"Canadians think hockey revolves around them," Black Bear forward Jason
Vitorino from Brookline, Mass. said. "We beat them in the World Cup so
they are yapping right now. But they won't be yapping when the Olympics
are over.
"The U.S. will come back and take it."
Should the Stars and Stripes reach a heroic return to golden glory, the
celebration won't consist of a joy ride, which the Swedes have already
planned.
"He (Gustafsson) is that drastic because they won't ever win," Black
Bear defenseman Jason Price from Eden Prairie, Minn. said. "We'll take
it just like another win."
But if Sweden pulls it off?
"The Swedish flag will be burnt," Vitorino joked.
The U.S. will have a tough road to the podium, however, with the
powerful Czech Republic and a rematch with Canada looming in its path.
"Canada will win of course," Maine goalie Alfie Michaud from Selkirk,
Manitoba said. "In Canada, you're born with a pair of skates. In
America you have basketball and football, too."
The U.S., despite falling to Canada on Sunday, entered the Olympics
with high aspirations, mostly because of its success in the 1996 World
Cup, where they upended Canada for the title.
Stewart says that bitter taste of defeat still lingers.
"The whole team got together in a room in Cumberland Hall to watch that
game," Stewart said. "That was tough to take."
However, the defeat in the World Cup -- formerly the Canada Cup --
gives the Canadians a chance to exploit the revenge factor, which also
evokes a certain attitude from its inhabitants.
"We are cocky because we know we are the best," Guite said. "We rattle
everyone. The Americans, Swedes, Finland -- even the Austrian (Matthias
Trattnig) got his share."
"Canadians will be cocky, but the Swedes won't say anything until they
win a game...if they win another game," Stewart said.
Maine coach Shawn Walsh says he thinks Canada is the team to beat, but
hopes his team isn't staying up all night to watch the spectacle.
"The biggest dilemma we're facing this week is to make sure they watch
the games on the VCR," Walsh said.