Russia sent packing

After backing out on threat to leave, U.S. dismisses Russians

By Jim Litke, Associated Press

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (AP) -- Maybe they should have gone home early.

One day after Russia threatened to pull out of the Olympics over slights real and imagined, its Big Red Hockey Machine was taken apart 3-2 Friday by a U.S. team better known for dismantling furniture than dynasties.

The win pushed the United States into Sunday's final against Canada, which pounded Belarus 7-1 in the afternoon's first semifinal. But any more complaining about a North American conspiracy would be a waste of breath. The Russians have nobody to blame but themselves for this one.

Asleep, already behind 3-0 and outshot 38-11 over the first two periods, they roared back to life during a frenetic third period. But it was too late by then.

After getting beaten twice within the first four minutes -- while the Russians built a quick 5-0 edge in shots -- goalie Mike Richter displayed the same nervy poise a U.S. netminder had exactly 22 years to the day earlier and stonewalled the Russians the rest of the way.

And that wasn't the only moment that made this one worthy of being called the "Coincidence on Ice."

When the U.S. looked ready to unravel right after Vladimir Malakhov's low drive from the deep left slot pulled Russia within 3-2, U.S. coach Herb Brooks, another blast from the past, called time to calm his squad. The gambit worked.

"We knew there were going to be moments like this. There were so many talented hockey players on their side, we knew it wasn't going to go our way all the time," Brooks said.

"We have a little word association we do, where one word can trigger a lot of conversation. I used a little phrase that we've been talking about all summer. I hope it settled them down some. I told them: 'Write your own book instead of reading someone else's book about success.'"

Unlike the Olympic tournament in Nagano -- the first time National Hockey League players were allowed into the Winter Games -- this U.S. squad behaved more like professionals than frat boys. Four years ago, it wasn't unusual to see Jeremy Roenick monopolizing the karaoke machine in bars the night before games, then grabbing a few teammates and marshaling partygoers down Chuo-dori Street until 5 a.m.

The Americans went 1-3 back then, and with the exception of lowly Belarus, didn't find anybody easy to beat the until they took on the chairs in their dorm rooms.

In a move that seemed part public relations and part nostalgia, U.S. Hockey brought Brooks out of mothballs to coach its team - even though he hardly seemed like a good fit.

He was hired the first time in 1980 to handle the collection of college kids who became known as the "Miracle on Ice" team. At the time, Brooks was the coach at the University of Minnesota, a disciplinarian whose players called him "The Khomeini of Hockey" behind his back.

This time around, no one expected him to come down hard on a collection of seasoned pros. To his credit, Brooks didn't even try. Instead, he appealed to their sense of professionalism, did a little bit of cheerleading on the side, but mostly stayed out of their way. Somehow, it clicked.

"We're here for one reason, to win," Doug Weight said, "just as they were back then as amateurs. This is all fun for us."

If only the Russians could say the same.

"It was do or die," said Igor Kravchuk, who plays full time for the Ottawa Senators. "We just did it too late."

Russian coach Slava Fetisov concurred, but he wondered aloud whether his squad's furious comeback wasn't dented slightly by the officials.

"We play all the third period in their zone and only got one power play," he said. "There's not much you can do about it right now. An agreement's been signed that is designed to have a final between Canada and the USA."

Before you think this is another Russian pushing another far-flung conspiracy theory, understand that the "agreement" Fetisov referred to was put in place by the NHL and hockey's international governing body. It stipulates that NHL referees must work any Olympic game in which a majority of the players are from the NHL.

Bill McCreary of Canada worked the Russia-USA game, in part because the other two NHL referees in Salt Lake City are Americans.

"They live here," Fetisov said, "and they know the North American players."

And those players who will take each other on in Sunday's USA-Canada game know each other intimately, just as the Russians and Americans who exchanged shots, elbows, body blows and insults well into Saturday night.

The Americans' run through the bracket has awakened echos, but unlike 1980, a win on Sunday will allow them to lay claim to the title of best in the world. There would be no upset attached, no "miracle" tag, nothing but a lot of heartache north of the border, where people still believe a nation that gave birth to the game should still be its master.

Said Roenick, with some awe in his voice, "I don't think there will be one person on the street anywhere in Canada on Sunday afternoon."

 

Related information
Stories
U.S. holds off Russia in thriller to move to gold medal game Russia's third-period rally can't make up for lagging start CNNSI.com's Darren Eliot: Thrilling U.S. victory sets up NHL's dream gold medal game
Multimedia
Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.