I didn’t know a love like this could exist. Once I did, I felt the rush and the passion instantaneously. 

It wasn’t a parent or grandparent who turned on Hockey Night in Canada and allowed me to stay up late on Saturday. I didn’t know the ins and outs of hockey, nor did I understand the rush on the ice. I didn’t even know who I was supposed to cheer for. 

Cupid’s arrow struck my heart in Room 202. My love for the game of hockey began in my sixth-grade classroom. 

It was a cold day in February of 2014. I disliked mornings because I knew my school day began with seeing my nemesis, the bane of my existence: math class. I didn’t understand it then and I still don’t understand it now. I had no choice but to prepare to listen to my teacher, Ms. S, as she explained how I needed math in my adult life. I was mentally preparing how to pass the time until recess as I was stuck under the bright fluorescent lights in Room 202. All I needed to do was get through the math lesson of the day and then I was free.

But that didn’t happen. 

Ms. S had suggested watching the 2014 Sochi Olympics women’s hockey gold medal game between Canada and the US. At this point in time, my only experience with hockey has been using the foam hockey sticks in gym class. The only thing I had to think about was making sure I didn’t swing too high or hit my classmates. 

Like most sports fanatics, I didn’t imagine myself or model my gym class hockey play after some of the greats, or the legends, or the icons of the sport because I simply didn’t know they existed. The greatest hockey players have always been my classmates during gym class and I looked up to them. That was, until I watched my first professional sports match that day in math class in the sixth grade. 

Ms. S provided the option of learning math that day or watching hockey. Of course, I chose hockey even though I knew nothing about how the sport worked. I remember thinking to myself, ‘Flag Bearer Hayley Wickenheiser wasn’t using a foam hockey stick. Is she even a hockey player?’ 

We sat on the generic blue and grey carpet, situating ourselves in front of the high-tech smart board located in the corner of the room as Ms. S set up a spontaneous hockey watch party.

I thought this was going to be a regular, simple sports game. It was anything but that.

The US scored the first point in the second period. I felt gutted. Is this what heartbreak feels like? The despair of having to witness my newly beloved Canadian team lagging. The heartbreak grew even more as the US scored again on their powerplay in the third period. 

As Canada was now 0–2 with only three minutes left in the game, I leaned closer. As if leaning closer to the screen would give the boost that Captain Hayley Wickenheiser and the rest of Team Canada needed — from Scarborough to Sochi. 

Then, a miracle happened. A shot by Canada’s Brianne Jenner results in a goal. The roars and cheers that erupted throughout the game, I am surprised other classrooms didn’t check on us. We were still down by one goal and had less than a minute left in order to tie the game so we could go into overtime. 

As a freshly new hockey fan, I never felt more fear. Mind you, I still had to learn and understand math every single day. The US managed to get a hold of the puck and shot it toward the empty Canada net. I was holding my classmates and thinking this was it. I was already seeing the medal ceremony with the US wearing their shiny gold. 

I am happy to report that my calculations were wrong. 

The puck hit the post and managed to stay out. I didn’t think at 11 years old, I would be experiencing cardiac arrest. 

But with 55 seconds left on the clock, forward Marie Philip Poulin is the equalizer for this nail-biting game, sending the game into overtime. 

My classmates and I were screaming, hugging and crying tears of joy. The Team Canada passion, the red and white, was bleeding through all of us in Room 202. The game was neck and neck, like any Canada-US game. The US continued to attack, but was shut down by Shannon Szabados who was in the net for Team Canada. 

A breakaway by Wickenheiser began to emerge. I was too scared to breathe. I felt the adrenaline. The cold rush of every icy stride that she took was one step closer to the net for a shot, but she wasn’t alone. 

The US’ forward Hilary Knight was right behind her, gaining speed. She brought both herself and Wickenheiser, leaving Knight to slide across the ice. The referee raised their hand with force, calling the penalty and sending Canada into a power play. 

With just over 10 minutes left in overtime, the puck continued to be passed back and forth among the Canadian players. With only five seconds left on the powerplay, Poulin scored!

The game was over. The gloves, sticks, and helmets began flying, as players on the bench began rushing the ice. I never felt this type of love. 

Watching the women’s 2014 gold medal game in Room 202 has altered my life, and my love for the game and the team continues to grow. 

In high school, math classes continued to provide a great venue to watch hockey games, but I stayed quiet to avoid any detection. This was the match that altered my life. My love for the game, and for the team, only grew.

As I turn on every hockey game, I am reminded of how my heart was struck by Cupid’s arrow in Room 202 all those years ago. Thank you Team Canada for teaching me what real love feels like.