As an ex-Canadian, I will get everyone here the mentality of hockey and Canada.
Canadians EXPECT to beat the Americans in hockey. All the time and anytime. Hands down. Just like Team USA basketball: we expect to kick everyone’s ass.
It’s the only thing that the country is damn good at. They are hurting for sure. I havent texted my relatives and family in BC but if you check ALL Canadian newspapers it sthe ONLY TOPIC in sports. Google them if you like :)
If Canadians really think that, they are behind the times. The NHL is under 50% Canadian now. Up until around 1970, it was close to 100% Canadian. I think even Canadian hockey fans understand that Canada no longer has anything close to a monopoly on great hockey. Not to take anything away from them, of course; Canada is still number 1, just saying it is not really analogous to the US domination of basketball.
I grew up in Minnesota - and the High School State Hockey Championships are coming up, and being out-of-state I’m trying to find the games on the net. (It will be hit and miss I think). But watching some of the games on youtube, it is pretty funny the verbal sparring that goes on between the Canadians and the Minnesotans on who develops better and more hockey players.
A Canadian made a good point thought - Canada probably (or maybe he had the numbers and it is a fact) that they produce more hockey players - as that is such a common sport in Canada for most towns.
The old coach in my hometown in Minnesota was asked about how it felt to have the most state championships in hockey, 15 or something at the time). Well - it’s great - we have a great program. But how about our basketball team winning State twice!? 900+ schools in the state have basketball - while only 147 have hockey. (Numbers are estimated, but you get the gist of it.)
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/canada-loses-women-s-olympic-hockey-final-3-2-to-u-s-after-shootout-1.3814151