Canadian Women's Hockey team received their gold medals after defeating the United States 2-0, they had an impromptu party on the ice.The celebration involved the chugging of beer and cigars on center ice (gotta admire a fine Canadian women who enjoys a fine stogy.)
Hockey Canada quickly issued a statement apologizing for the gold medal celebration.
"The members of Team Canada apologize if their on-ice celebrations, after fans had left the building, have offended anyone,"
"In the excitement of the moment, the celebration left the confines of our dressing room and shouldn't have. The team regrets that its gold-medal celebration may have caused the IOC or COC any embarrassment.
"Our players and team vow to uphold the values of the Olympics moving forward and view this situation as a learning experience."
Steve Keough, a spokesman for the Canadian Olympic Committee told the Canadian media, "We condone celebrations. ... We don't condone actions of irresponsibility," Keough said. "I think Canadians understand it's quite an emotional moment for our team. It was not our intention to go against any IOC protocols."
Then the International Olympic Committee found out from an Associated Press reporter. Here's what Gilbert Felli, the IOC's executive director of the Olympic Games told the Canadian Press.
"If that's the case, that is not good," he said. "It is not what we want to see.
"I don't think it's a good promotion of sport values. If they celebrate in the changing room, that's one thing, but not in public."
There's more controversy with Marie-Philip Poulin, the youngest player on the team at 18, is below the drinking age in British Columbia was in partying with her teammates.The IOC says they will investigate.
Please, there just a bunch of Canadian women celebrating perhaps the biggest accomplishment of their ice hockey careers. Those of us at the OSG HQ say get over it.
Photo Courtesy: Andre Forget, QMI Agency
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