Well, we can’t touch ’em all, Joe.
And today, that one hurt.
But being Canadian was never about touching them all. It’s about lacing up anyway. It’s about frozen ponds at sunrise and driveway nets at dusk. It’s about small towns shutting down early for puck drop and big cities roaring in unison. It’s about believing. Every single time. That this could be the moment.
Yes, we lost a game.
But we are still the country that stretches from ocean to ocean to ocean. The country of maple leaves and mountain peaks, prairie skies and Atlantic tides. The country that gave the world kindness as a reflex and resilience as a way of life. The country that shows up – whether it’s to welcome newcomers, rebuild after fires and floods, or fill arenas with hope.
We are proud not because we win every time.
We are proud because we care every time.
Because we raise players who skate with heart.
Because we raise kids who learn teamwork before they learn stats.
Because when we fall short, we shake hands, lift our heads, and start dreaming about the next time.
Today, we feel it. That hollow, quiet sting.
But tomorrow?
We’ll still be Canada.
Still strong.
Still united.
Still believing.
And that’s something no scoreboard can ever take away.
