Getty Image / Xavier Laine
- The Team USA Men’s Hockey team was upset by Slovakia in truly unbelievable fashion in the Olympic quarterfinals
- Slovakia was an extreme underdog coming into the Olympics and this video of a youth hockey team watching the shootout in Slovakia and celebrating shows how much this win meant
- Read more Hockey articles right here
The Team USA Men’s Hockey team lost their quarterfinal game to underdog Slovakia and our heavily-favored Americans are now out of the Winter Olympics without any hardware. Footage of this youth hockey team in Slovakia watching the shootout and consequent Slovakian win shows just how much this game meant to the country of 5.49 million people, a population smaller than the Miami metropolitan area.
To put this upset into context, Team USA came into the Winter Olympics with +601 odds to win the Gold Medal. And this was with a team made up entirely of non-NHL players, they were all collegiate and/or minor league skaters. Slovakia came into the Winter Olympics with +9,900 to win gold. Now the Slovakians are just one win away from playing for the Gold Medal in hockey.
The Slovakian men’s hockey team scored in the final minute of regulation time to tie the quarterfinals game 2-2 (Team USA blew a 5-3 chance in the 3rd period) and set it to overtime. The game was scoreless after the 3-on-3 overtime and went to a shootout where Team USA failed to score a single goal in five tries. Team USA was undefeated in the Winter Olympics coming into this game but going 0-and-5 in a shootout ended their dreams.
Youth Hockey Team Loses Their Minds Celebrating Slovakia Olympic Win Over Team USA
While we had our olympic shootout vs USA in China..this is how early morning practice looked like in many small arenas in Slovakia..🤷🏻♂️🤣🤣🤜🏻🤛🏻👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/Hipex9Yegv
— Miroslav Šatan (@miro81s) February 16, 2022
It’s hard to imagine youth hockey players in the USA celebrating a Team USA win like this for anyone other than Canada. But that also puts into perspective just how historic of a win this was for the Slovakian national hockey team even if it was against our college players (which they’re well aware of, and doesn’t diminish the upset at all).
Team USA Fans React To Slovakian Youth Team Celebrating
American here… sucks that we lost, but this video takes away the sting. Good luck!
— Chris Farley (@foofarley) February 16, 2022
I hated to lose that game, but am now rooting for you Slovakia
— Kerry (@kerry61219) February 16, 2022
Sad USA lost, but this is awesome! 👏👏
— WeKilluminati (@WeKilluminatiTV) February 16, 2022
As an American, all I have to say is this: “Slovakia, now go win the whole fucking thing. I’ll buy a sweater and cheer you on.”
— Andy Stumpf (@TheAndyStumpf) February 16, 2022
Hurts to see the US lose but I'm proud of the effort they and Slovakia brought. Wishing y'all the best of luck! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
— 🐻 Bruins Coverage 🐻 (@bruinscoverage_) February 16, 2022
Scenes from an emerging hockey nation. Moments like these are integral for the growth of the game. Beautiful is right!
— SENSing a W (@OptimisticSens) February 16, 2022
If it’s any consolation to upset Americans out there, Team Canada’s Men’s Hockey Team lost too. The Canadians fell 2-0 to Sweden.