the mad sports man

 Geez February, you're leaving already?  What did you leave us with? Let's see, a Super Bowl won by the Los Angeles Rams, a whole wad of make up games in the NHL, 16 days of Olympic insanity, and a likely chance the baseball season won't start.  Oh yeah and I have a new job.

 Wayne Gretzky scores three goals in Buffalo as Edmonton beat the Sabres 6-3. His first goal passes Phil Esposito for most goals in an NHL season. His second passes Bobby Hull for most goals in a hockey season. (Hull had 77 in the 1974-74 WHA season.  NHL wouldn't or still don't recognize the WHA). Gretzky finishes the 1981-82 season with 92 goals.

 It's a two-fer Tuesday. 2/22/22. Also will be a palindrome until the end of the month.  On this day in 1980, the US beats the Soviet Union 4-3 in a major hockey surprise, known as the "miracle on ice."  Two days later, they beat Finland 4-2 to win gold.

 These games wen from February 4-20. 91 nations and 2871 athletes participated. 1. 7 new sports were added to these games. 2. Haiti and Saudi Arabia made their winter debuts here. 3.  Marie Philip Poulin is the only hockey player to score a goal in 4 gold medal games. 4. Sarah Nurse first black woman hockey player to win gold. She also set points record with 18 in the tournament. 5. Donovan Carrillo became the first Mexican to make the free skate and first Mexican+Latin American to land a quad. 6. Ireen Wust became the first speed skater to win a gold in five Olympics. 7. Slovakia wins first ever hockey medal. They beat Sweden 4-0 to win bronze. 8. One podium sweep A. February 15, two man bobsled, Germany, Francesco Friedrich and Thorsten Margis, Johannes Lochner and Florian Bauer, Christoph Hader and Matthais Sommer finished on the podium. 9. Norway won most medals with 37 (16g, 8s, 13b). Norway's 16 golds broke a record for most golds.(previous record was 13 done three times...

 Final speeches have been made. The flame put out. The Olympic flag handed over. The 2022 winter Olympics are done. Canada finishes with 4g, 8s, 14b for 26 total. Next winter Olympics are in 2026 in Milan and Cortina D'Ampezzo Italy. Before that, the 2024 summer Olympics in Paris. See you then.

 Finland has won its first ever men's hockey gold with a 2-1 win over Russia.  Quite the game here. Finland will be partying for sure.  No more medals to be handed out. Just the closing ceremonies.

 The four man bobsled team of Justin Kripps, Ben Coakwell, Ryan Sommer and Cam Stones just picked up a bronze with a time of 3:55.09.  Hung on to bronze by .06 second. Germany was that close to a podium sweep.  That is now 4g, 8s, 14b for 26 total, matching their total from 2010.  Yay.

 ...... Isabelle Weidemann. Just announced a few minutes ago. A gold, silver and bronze won. Not surprised by this choice. The end is close now.

 Great Britain was stripped of their silver in the 4 x 100m men's event, due to Chijindu Ujah testing positive for a banned substance. Andre DeGrasse, Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake and Brendon Rodney went from bronze to silver. That puts Canada's final 2020 total to 7g, 7s, 10b for 24 total.

 Start with hockey. Slovakia won its first ever medal, beating Sweden 4-0 to claim bronze. Wow.  In curling, Sweden beat Great Britain 5-4 to win men's gold. Meanwhile, Sweden beat Switzerland 9-7 to win women's bronze. This caps day 15.

 Ivanie Blondin has picked up a silver in the speed skating mass start race. Was a pretty good race. Irene Schouten off the Netherlands with gold and Francesca Lollabrigida of Italy with bronze. That is now 4g, 8s, 13b for 25 total. This race was Steve Armitage's last race called, as he announced his retirement yesterday following the Olympics. Have a happy retirement, Steve. It was a treat hearing your calls.

Canada will be announcing the flagbearer(s) tomorrow night at 5:45pm. Any predictions on who it will be?

 This just in.  Laurent Dubreuil just won a silver in the 1000m speed skating event. His time was 1:08.32.  That is now 4g, 7s, 13b for 24 total.  Woohoo!!

 The team of Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant and Geoff Walker have claimed bronze with an 8-5 win over the USA. Wasn't their best week, but today they were good enough.  Lots of tears and emotion after the game. For Gushue and Nichols, it's their second medal. They have gold from 2006. That is now 4g, 6s, 13b for 23 total.

 Just finished. Cassie Sharpe has the silver and Rachel Karker has the bronze in the freeski halfpipe. Yeeesssss!!!!! That is now 4g, 6s, 12b for 22 total.

 This race just finished. Marielle Thompson just won a silver in ski cross. She went from fourth to silver in the race. That is now 4g, 5s, 11b for 20 total.

 It was close the whole game.  Canada has just beat the USA 3-2 and has taken gold in women's hockey.  Marie Philip Poulin with the game winner. She has a gold in every gold medal game she had played in since 2010. Canada has now 4g, 4s, 11b for 19 total.  Yaaaay.

 This season had 6 teams and a 70 game schedule. Ice surface was painted white for the first time. Ted Lindsay, Sid Abel and Gordie Howe finished 1-2-3 in scoring.  February 5, Dick Irvin won his 500th game as coach.  Terry Sawchuk makes his debut here.  Bill Durnan wins Vezina, then retires due to stress.  Semi finals had Detroit beat Toronto 4-3 and New York beat Montreal. Detroit then beats New York to win the Stanley Cup. New York plays two "home" games in Toronto. The circus had taken over Madison Square Garden. Welcome to the 1950s.

 Charles Hamelin, Steven Dubois, Pascal Dion and Jordan Pierre Gilles has won gold in the men's 5000m  short track relay. Yes.  For Hamelin, it's his sixth career medal. He ties Andre DeGrasse for most medals by a Canadian male, medals in five Olympics and ties Cindy Klassen for most speed skating medals. This was also Hamelin's last race in the Olympics. Wow.  That is now 3g, 4s, 11b for 18 total.

 This is big.  Slovakia just beat the USA 3-2 in a shootout and is now in the semis. Stay tuned for who they will play.