The United States of America men’s hockey team couldn’t have been happier on Sunday in Milan at the Winter Olympic Games.
New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes scored the game-winner in overtime to win the country’s first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980.
They paraded around the ice, hugging one another and chanting “U-S-A!” to the adoring crowd.
On the other end, Team Canada couldn’t mourn in peace. They were obligated to sit on the bench and then stand while their archrivals celebrated.
Not only did they have to stand and watch, but Canada had to accept their silver medals before the Americans received their gold versions.
While that might not have fully angered the Canadian players, what happened next did.
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As throughout all post-sport ceremonies at these Olympics, the organizers handed out stuffed animals of the Games’ animal mascots to the medal winners.
This meant that, while the Canadian players were having the worst moments of their professional careers, they had to accept a small stuffed animal and hold it while watching Team USA party ten feet away.
The player who seemed most upset at the stuffed animal gift was Colorado Avalanche ace and former NHL MVP Nathan MacKinnon, who looked at the fluffy toy like it was the ugliest thing he had ever seen in his life.
MacKinnon was especially upset in his post-game interview, telling a reporter, “You be the judge of who was the better team today.”
The Avalanche star missed a wide-open net with the puck on his stick in the dying minutes that could have won the gold medal for Canada.
Instead, he will go home with a silver medal, alongside an official Olympic Games stuffed animal.
Well, that is if he doesn’t destroy it before leaving Milan.