Croatian Canadian Joe Sakic winns gold for Canada. Two goals two assists. By LARRY McSHANE, Associated Press Writer SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Silver to start, silver to finish. The U.S. men's hockey team settled for a silver medal to close out America's most successful Winter Games, with Canada ending a 50-year gold medal drought in its national sport with a 5-2 victory over its southern neighbors. The Sunday loss provided the U.S. Winter Olympians with silver bookends: two silvers on the first day of competition, one on the last. There was plenty of gold in between, along with more silver and bronze, as the United States finished with a record 34 medals. While the two U.S. medals back on Feb. 9 were cause for celebration, the hockey medal was cause for mixed emotions. Even the return of coach Herb Brooks, head of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team, couldn't produce a gold medal for the home team. "We don't have anything to feel bad about," said U.S. defenseman Phil Housley, who scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the 3-2 semifinal victory over Russia. "These memories are something I will carry with me for a long time." It was the first Olympic loss ever with Brooks behind the bench, ending a 12-game unbeaten string. And it was the first U.S. Olympic loss on home ice in 70 years. While the Americans and Canadians were winning medals, the biggest doping scandal of the games saw cross-country skiers Johann Muehlegg of Spain and Larissa Lazutina of Russia stripped of their most recent gold medals after drug positives. "Technically, they are Olympic champions," said IOC president Jacques Rogge, announcing the pair will keep their other Salt Lake City medals. "Morally, it is a totally different issue." Both gold medalists, along with a third cross-country skier, were thrown out of the games — more a symbolic gesture than anything just hours before the closing ceremony. Between them, Lazutina and Muehlegg had won a half-dozen Salt Lake City medals. In the much-hyped hockey final, Joe Sakic and Jarome Ignila scored twice each for the Canadians, who fell behind 1-0 before bouncing back to dominate play. Canadian goalie Martin Brodeur now has an Olympic gold medal to go with his two Stanley Cup titles. "We felt all along the expectations of all the people in Canada," Brodeur said. "It's always fun to be part of a great team." Brodeur's New Jersey Devils teammate, Brian Rafalski, had one of the two U.S. goals; Tony Amonte had the other. Distributed by www.CroatianWorld.net. This message is intended for Croatian Associations/Institutions and their Friends in Croatia and in the World. The opinions/articles expressed on this list do not reflect personal opinions of the moderator. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, please delete or destroy all copies of this communication and please, let us know!
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