Men’s Hockey Gold at Salt Lake City 2002 Voted by Fans as Top Canadian Olympic Winter Games Moment of All Time
TORONTO — It was a momentous victory that united a country in pride and passion, cementing Canada’s position atop the hockey world and proving once and for all that hockey is Canada’s game.
On February 24, with millions of fans on the edge of their seats, Team Canada defeated the United States 5-2 at the 2002 Winter Games to capture Canada’s first men’s Olympic hockey gold medal in 50 years.
More than seven years later, this moment remains etched in the memories of all Canadians, and was voted by fans as the #1 Canadian Olympic Winter Games Moment of all time.
Results were revealed earlier tonight [Saturday] on CTV and V in the Top 10 Canadian Olympic Winter Moments, presented by the Royal Canadian Mint, which counted down the Top 10 moments (10 through 1), as voted on earlier this year by fans across the country.
Coming in at #2 was the Canadian women’s hockey gold medal at Salt Lake City 2002 with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over their bitter United States rival, followed by Cindy Klassen at #3 and her five long track speed skating medals at Turin 2006, the most medals ever for an individual Canadian in a single Olympic Games. For her efforts, Klassen was named "Woman of the Games" by IOC President Jacques Rogge. (See Top 10 rankings below.)
"Rarely does a sporting event create both a lasting emotional connection with fans and instil a tremendous amount of national pride. These Top 10 moments brought Canadians closer together as we collectively cheered on the remarkable efforts of our Olympians," said Keith Pelley, President, Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium. "With the strength of our current Canadian athletes, Vancouver 2010 promises to provide more inspiring and lasting moments that will unite a new generation of Canadians."
"The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to have given Canadians from coast to coast the opportunity to relive some of the most memorable Canadian Olympic Winter moments ever witnessed", said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "With Vancouver 2010 just around the corner, we invite all Canadians to save these special coins as a way to build momentum towards the Games and as lasting keepsakes of this extraordinary event in our nation’s history."
The Top 3 moments will be featured on 25-cent coins as part of the Royal Canadian Mint’s extensive circulation program commemorating the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Each coin will have a distribution of 22 million, with three million of each in brilliant colour.
The #1 Men’s Hockey coin enters into circulation on September 29, followed by the #2 Women’s Hockey coin on November 17 and the #3 Cindy Klassen coin on January 5. Once released into circulation, the coins will be available exclusively at RBC branches and participating Petro-Canada locations.
The Mint has also produced a special uncirculated set featuring all three coloured Moments coins, available at www.mint.ca/2010. Visitors to the website can also request a free coin collector card, to keep all of the circulation coins from the Vancouver 2010 collection.
The one-hour Top 10 Canadian Olympic Winter Moments special will be re-broadcast on the Consortium’s suite of assets (see schedule below). In addition, the special is available in its entirety on CTVOlympics.ca and RDSolympiques.ca.
Voting for the Top 10 Canadian Olympic Winter Moments began in February at CTVOlympics.ca and RDSolympiques.ca. Fans were also encouraged to share their memories about each moment. Two lucky Canadians were randomly selected as the grand prize winners and will receive a trip for two to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
The Top 10 Canadian Olympic Winter Moments, as voted by Canadians
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#1 Men’s Hockey Team — gold medal, Salt Lake City 2002
#2 Women’s Hockey Team — gold medal, Salt Lake City 2002
#3 Cindy Klassen — one gold medal, two silver medals and two bronze medals, long track speed skating, Turin 2006
#4 Jamie Sale and David Pelletier — gold medal, figure skating, Salt Lake City 2002
#5 Catriona Le May Doan — gold medal, long track speed skating, Salt Lake City 2002
#6 Clara Hughes — gold medal, long track speed skating, Turin 2006
#7 Nancy Greene — gold medal and silver medal, alpine skiing, Grenoble 1968
#8 Gaétan Boucher — two gold medals and one bronze medal, long track speed skating, Sarajevo 1984
#9 Beckie Scott — gold medal, cross-country skiing, Salt Lake City 2002
#10 Marc Gagnon — gold medal, short track speed skating, Salt Lake City 2002
Additional Airings — Broadcast Schedule English
- APTN East & HD — Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. ET
- APTN West — Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. MT
- APTN North — Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. CT
- TSN and TSN HD — Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. ET
- TSN2 and TSN2 HD — Sept. 23 p.m. ET at 10 p.m. ET
- Rogers Sportsnet Ontario and SNOHD — Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. ET
- Rogers Sportsnet Pacific and SNPHD — Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. PT
- Rogers Sportsnet West and SNWHD — Sept. 26 at 10 p.m. MT
- Rogers Sportsnet East and SNEHD — Sept. 26 at 10 p.m. ET
- OMNI.1 Ontario — Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. ET
- OMNI.2 Ontario — Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. ET
- OMNI Calgary and OMNI Edmonton — Sept. 27 at 10 p.m. MT
- OMNI BC — Sept. 27 at 10 p.m. PT
- OLN — Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. ET
- RDS and RDS HD — Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. ET
- APTN East & HD — Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. ET
- APTN West — Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. MT
- APTN North — Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. CT
About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada’s circulation coins. An ISO 9001-2000 certified company, the Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. The Mint is an Official Supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and has undertaken to produce the most extensive circulation coin program in relation to the Olympic Games ever conceived by any mint worldwide, while also offering limited mintage collector coins and sets. Visit www.mint.ca/2010 for Vancouver 2010 keepsakes and gifts.
About Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium
Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium is a unique relationship between leading media conglomerates CTV Inc. and Rogers Media Inc., which together will provide unprecedented coverage and consumer choice in English, French and multi-languages on multiple platforms for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the London 2012 Games of the Olympiad. Official brands include CTV, TSN, RDS, RIS Info Sports, Rogers Sportsnet, OMNI, OLN, V, APTN, ATN, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca, The Globe and Mail, Corus Québec and select Rogers radio stations across the country.
THESE SETS SHOULD BE NICE ONES TO COLLECT, LIMITED TO JUST 30,000. THE 3 COLORED 25 CENT COINS SHOULD BECOME COLLECTABLE IN THE FUTURE.
THis Christmas nine little people in our family began collecting the Olympic quarters and lucky loonies. What fun to seek a completed set!!! We have had the support of the bank employees in several banks. The Royal Bank staff in Amherst, NS are wonderful. We are also visiting Peto Canada stations in Moncton, NB – what great staff and they have been very generous with their collection.
We have made Olympic Circles from Christmas wreaths and plan to light them on New Years Eve 2010. They will stay on the back deck until the Olympics are over. Go Canada Go!!!
hello
my name is michele i am collecting the coins for my grandchildren and i have notice there is no spots on the card for the womans hockey team why is that
i live in bc canada 2010 oylimpics
I am looking for (6) 2010 25 cent coin collector cards, one for each of my grandchildren. I have been to Petro Canada and the Post Office (out of stock)
I have the coins. Can you help me out.
Thank You
Lou