Hockey Tradition Brings World of Pressure to Canada

It lost some of its NHL teams to the United States and has lost players to the lure of American dollars, but Canada has clung to its belief that because hockey is so much a part of its culture, Canadians have a passion for it that no American or European could match.

The finale of the World Cup of Hockey tonight at the Molson Centre is about that supposed invincibility, not neutral-zone traps or power-play units. It’s a face-off between Canada’s rich hockey tradition and the United States’ attempt to add a new entry to its thin international hockey resume.

“Deep down, we do believe it is our game and we want to win this to keep that claim,” said Canadian defenseman Adam Foote of the Colorado Avalanche. “It means more to us if we lose than it would mean to them if they lose.”

That may work to the United States’ advantage.

“They have an awful lot of pressure,” winger Keith Tkachuk said. “Everyone in Canada cares about this, and there’s I don’t know how many million people who don’t care in the U.S. But we know what it means, and that’s what counts.”

Canada won the opener, 4-3, in overtime Tuesday at Philadelphia, but the United States pulled even with a fast-paced 5-2 victory here Thursday.

Canadian center Mark Messier, who sat out Game 2 because of an upper-respiratory infection and flu, is expected to return tonight.

Messier, who delivered his guarantee of a triumph for the New York Rangers in the seventh game of their 1994 semifinal playoff series against the New Jersey Devils, stopped short of promising a Canadian victory. However, he vowed Canada would draw on its character and old, indefinable mystique.

“I don’t think we have anything to be embarrassed about at all,” he said. “The teams are so evenly matched, whoever executes and has a big game and comes up large is going to win the game. I believe Canada is once again going to find a way to do it.”

It won’t be easy. Canada’s defense, which lost Rob Blake because of an elbow infection, has been slow, exposing goaltender Curtis Joseph to repeated point-blank shots. Its forwards haven’t been able to elude the U.S. defense to create much offense.

While Canada looks to Messier for inspiration, U.S. Coach Ron Wilson will use an episode from reel life. Wilson, who has compared his team to a boxer facing a long-incumbent heavyweight champion, planned to fire up his team by showing a clip from “Rocky II” before the game.