Canadian men’s hockey team learns valuable lesson from women’s win over U.S.: Never quit

SOCHI, RUSSIA—Matt Duchene had trouble sleeping after Canada’s women’s hockey team made an improbable comeback to beat the United States in overtime to win the gold medal.

Starting goaltender Shannon Szabados and alternate captain Hayley Wickenheiser didn’t need sleep at all.

Less than 12 hours after their unforgettable victory, Szabados and Wickenheiser were all smiles as they watched Team Canada skate before its semifinal matchup with the U.S. They got congratulatory handshakes from Don Cherry and then hugs from men’s coach Mike Babcock.

“That was unbelievable,” Babcock said after chatting with Szabados and Wickenheiser. “What a finish. How exciting for these girls and the work they put in. Obviously heart-breaking for the opposition, but we got some bounces and they executed and make you proud. It was unreal.”

Babcock watched most of Jennifer Jones’ women’s curling team winning gold before he had to leave to attend a team event. Then he and the team witnessed Marie-Philip Poulin tied the score with 54.6 seconds left and then won it 8:10 into overtime.

“We said, we’re going to watch it (on television), so we can relax and you can’t relax watching that,” Babcock said. “There was great individual performance on the overtime. My God, the saves — scary stuff.”

Corey Perry and several players watched the game at the Canadian athletes lounge in the village, while Sidney Crosby a few others and the entire management team were at Bolshoy Ice Dome. Not only did they enjoy the thrill of watching the women win, but they picked up a valuable lesson.

“Never quit,” Perry said. “I mean, three and a half minutes left and down 2-0, it’s pretty remarkable that they had no quit in their step and they kept driving. It’s not over until that buzzer goes.”

The Canadian men have not trailed in the tournament through four games. But if they find themselves in that situation, Babcock knows he’ll have something to draw from the women coming back.

“I just think what it does for everybody in life is real simple to me is when I’m watching that is you don’t give in,” Babcock said. “You don’t give in. You just keep on keeping on. Is it going to go your way every time? No. But you choose your attitude and how you perform and how hard you dig in.”

It also meant something that Szabados and Wickenheiser, a bit bleary-eyed but chipper and wearing their gold medals, came to the skate with team sports psychologist Dr. Kimberley Amirault-Ryan.

“I bet they haven’t been to bed,” Babcock said with a big grin. “They’ve probably been having a good time and as well they should be. They earned the opportunity.”

Perry said a “special bond” developed between players on the men’s and women’s teams from hanging out in Calgary over the summer during Team Canada’s Olympic orientation camp.

There’s also the joint enjoyment of seeing the women’s curling team win gold and anticipate another from Brad Jacobs and the men Friday.

“If you’re Canadian, yesterday was a pretty good day, I think — pretty special,” Babcock said. “We got the Jacobs group going for gold today. That’s the stuff.”

Seeing curling or bobsleigh gold from Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse is special, but it was even more important for the men’s players to see this happen in their own sport on the women’s side.

“What a comeback,” Duchene said. What a character win by them.”

Added Perry: “It just shows that nobody’s a quitter, and they had no quit last night. It’s a great feeling to have when you see other people from your country battle as hard as they can to get that win.”