Coach’s Pep Talk

Mike Sullivan reminded his Team USA squad just how rare it is for American-born hockey players to reach the Olympic podium’s top spot. And he did this before they even trounced Slovakia in the quarterfinals.

A Reality Check

Sullivan’s not one to let his team get ahead of themselves. He knows how few U.S.-born players have actually won Olympic gold in hockey. It’s a sobering fact, and one that Sullivan hopes will keep his team grounded and focused on the task at hand.

It’s not like they needed a reminder, though – the team’s quarterfinal win was pretty convincing. Still, Sullivan’s words are a useful reality check for a team that’s suddenly found itself on the cusp of something big.