Talk of the Games
The medal standings tell only part of the sports story of what's happening at the Games. For the rest, check out the latest dispatches from The Seattle Times' sports crew of columnists, reporters and producers.
Subscribe
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print
Share
US hockey team gets workmanlike win, hears unlikely cheers
Posted by Bob Condotta
It might not have been the blowout some hoped for as the United States beat Switzerland today 3-1 in its first Olympic Games hockey contest here at Canada Hockey Place.
Here's what the scoreboard looked like at the end:
The Americans led 3-0 at the end of two periods then got conservative and held on for the win. Like many of the teams here filled with NHL players, the US has had just one practice before playing today and coach Ron Wilson said "we're a chemistry experiment'' one that he thought was good enough on this day.
Players and coaches said later they were a little surprised at the mostly positive reaction the team got, thinking the Canadian fans might root for the underdog Swiss.
"I was actually very happy,'' said Wilson. "We had a lot of fans here. I wanted to get some cheering going so I started Ryan Kesler (a member of the hometown Vancouver Canucks) because I know he's a very popular player here in Vancouver.''
"I thought for sure we were getting booed today,'' said American Bobby Ryan. "I came out expecting that. But I think the fans were just excited to get things under way. When we play Canada I'm sure it will be a different story.''
Team GM Brian Burke also professed himself pleased with the game.
"Yeah, I am (happy),'' he said. "I wish I could say something more profound for you guys.''
The US will be back in action again on Thursday against Norway at noon.
UPDATE - 7:02 AM
Recently listed
Popular searches
Feb 28, 10 - 5:23 PM
Closing ceremonies live chat
Feb 28, 10 - 11:43 AM
USA-Canada live thread
Feb 28, 10 - 9:19 AM
Fans getting an early start on big game
Feb 27, 10 - 6:54 PM
T-shirts for tomorrow's big games hot sellers
Feb 27, 10 - 5:18 PM
Before the big game, a debate over semantics
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Club promoter convicted in brutal 2010 murder of Des Moines prostitute
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature 434
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looming 347
- Sheriff's office unhappy with 911 dispatcher in caseworker's call 282
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising 236
- Source: NY, California to sign mortgage settlement 221
- Oregon live game thread 155
- Pac-12 picks ... including the UW game 140
- Lakewood cop accused of taking donations for slain officers' families 112
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color 96
- Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details 72
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- A wandering gene's destructive path | Book review
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
- UW opening incubator facility for startups
- Controversial principal at Lowell Elementary takes job in Tacoma
