Armed with a friend's fancy Nikon SLR and high hopes, I made my way to Canada Hockey Place for the Women's Gold Medal game. With hardly an American in sight past the entrance, the crowd was heaving with Canadians. I've never seen such a brilliant sea of red and white. 

And then I realized I was wearing a striped red sweater and a navy blue t-shirt embroidered with stars. Attire mishaps aside, the game itself was thrilling.

Now before I continue here I need to come clean: I'm not a hockey fan. I must not be a true Canadian, eh?! I just didn't take interest in the sport, that is until a couple of weeks ago when I was in a packed pub with friends and big screens on every wall showcasing the first Canadian men's game of these Olympics. I don't know if it was the pace of play, the intensity in the pub, or the blood dripping from Sidney Crosby's nose to his lip but I was hooked. Hockey is invigorating!

It was with this renewed sense of my Canadian identity that I entered into the Women's Gold Medal game donning stars and stripes. Just hours earlier colleagues had explained the differences between men's and women's hockey and they were right. Women do have more finesse on the ice. They are more graceful. They're also slick. And they put on an incredibly entertaining show.

Play It Cool Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser (number 22) led the charge against the USA with vigour. A phenom in women's hockey, her statistics are unmatched by any other woman in the world. What a privilege to watch her dominate the puck, set up shots, and whiz past Americans. Hearing fathers explain to their sons the legend of Hayley also filled me with pride.

I clapped, I cheered, I clasped my hands, I did the wave, I leaned closer to the ice. I got into the game. 

My voice was hoarse by the second period. By the end of the third period the crowd was pulsating with energy as gold seemed a sure thing.

What a game. What amazing women! Congrats Hayley - gold looks fabulous on you!