±«ÓãÖ±²¥ grad Babcock wears lucky school tie, guides Canada to Olympic gold
Ìý
(PHOTO OF BABCOCK WEARING McGILL TIE IN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL GAME, COURTESY OF THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Humphrey)
Ìý
MONTREAL -- With an almost lyrical inevitability, Sidney Crosby sank the overtime winner that clinched a 3-2 gold medal victory for Canada over a determined American squad in men's hockey at the Vancouver Olympics, Sunday. While Crosby and his teammates did all the hard work, it was no doubt a simple ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ cravat that brought the karma, wrapped around the neck of head coach Mike Babcock (BE'86), who coached his team to a heart-stopping conquest, wearing a red ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ tie for good luck.
Ìý
With the weight of a nation on their shoulders - one that held its collective breath for almost three hours - the achievement was the country's record-breaking 14th gold medal of the Games. It was the most gold collected by any nation in the history of the Winter Olympics, dating back to 1924.
Ìý
A blue ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ tie had been couriered to Babcock several days before the final game but he had already packed his own red ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ tie and chose to wear his trusty old one for what may go down as the highest rated spectacle in Canadian television history.
Ìý
It's far from the first time that the 46-year-old from Saskatoon has won while sporting the colours of his alma mater and the tie continues to enjoy a winning record when Babcock is behind the bench, whether at the Olympics or in the National Hockey League, where he coaches the Detroit Red Wings. In fact, he has now won six of eight games, losing twice in overtime, while wearing the tie.
Ìý
Babcock's success caps an amazing record of achievement for ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ians at the Games, which were barely a day old when Jennifer Heil, a management student, won silver. Another gold was added Friday night courtesy of the Canadian women's hockey team, which included three players and a coach from ±«ÓãÖ±²¥.
Ìý
The women's team featured student Charline Labonté, a physical education junior from Boisbriand, plus recent graduates Catherine Ward (BCom '09) from Town of Mount-Royal, and Kim St-Pierre (BEd '05) of Châteauguay. Their medal haul brought the total number of Olympic medals - summer and winter - combined - won by ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ students or graduates to 28 since the Olympics began, eight of them gold, along with nine silvers and 11 bronzes.
Ìý
The team was presented with their medals by ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Chancellor Emeritus Richard Pound (BCom'62, BCL'67), an Olympian who once swam for the Redmen and continues to play an important role at the Games as a member of the International Olympic Committee.
Ìý
Canada's 2-0 victory over the U.S. women's squad last Friday, gave St-Pierre her third Olympic gold, while Labonté, who was between the pipes for Canada's gold medal victory at the 2006 Turin Games, earned her second. Ward, in her first year with the Olympic team after leading the Martlets to back-to-back national championships, garnered her first medal. She scored two goals, added a pair of assists in five games and was a pillar on the blueline. Ward had more ice time than any Canadian player over the tourney and was on the ice for both of Canada's markers in the gold medal game.
Ìý
Peter Smith (BEd'79) of Lachine, Que., an assistant coach with the women's hockey program and head coach of the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Martlets, has now helped Canada win three Olympic gold medals.
Ìý
Heil, a 26-year-old native of Spruce Grove, Alta., and defending gold medalist in women's freestyle moguls, finished second behind American Hannah Kearney, the daughter of two ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ grads: Jill Gass (BEd '79) and Tom Kearney (MA '79).
Ìý
Another ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ian at the Vancouver Games was speedskater Tyson Heung (BEd'05), a Montreal teacher originally from Brampton, Ont., who competed for Germany.
Ìý
Eight other ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ grads were involved in coaching or administrative roles, including Stephen Gough (BA'98), a coach with the short-track speedskaters, Howard Stupp (BEng'78, LLB'83, BCL'83) of Laval, Que., who is the IOCÌýdirector of legal affairs and Derek Covington (MA'92), a COC director of sports services. Sports psychologist Dr. Wayne Halliwell (MA'73) also played a role, along with a medical team that included physicians Connie Lebrun (MDCM, 1981), Greg Berry (MDCM '91), Tarek Razek (MDCM '93) and Pierre Guy (MDCM '89).
Ìý