The boy aquarium has exploded and a tank full of NHL stars has been unleashed on Milan. The USA men’s team has started off strong with a 5-1 win vs Latvia, and they’re now ready to take on Denmark and Germany. Yes, I’m a closet Hockey fan. Yes, it’s partially because men on skates are hot af. Yes, it’s also because there’s something so satisfying about watching fists fly on ice. Deal with it.
The USA may be off to a strong start, but Canada is still the favorite. They’re not just here to play along, they utterly crushed Czechia 5-0 early on, and their entire roster is made up of NHL elites, with freaking Macklin Celebrini and Connor McDavid driving offense. Traditionally, Canada’s men’s teams win Olympic gold, so they came to Milan with some pretty big expectations. They have an offensive depth and the kind of disciplined defense that makes them a favorite for people who like to bet money on the outcome of games. Note: this is not me telling you to bet money on Canada’s hockey team. Gambling isn’t my thing, but you do you.
Leaving Canada’s stats for a bit, may I remind you that the USA men’s team dropped 5 goals vs Latvia in their opener? They had puck possession, skating dominance, and a shocking amount of heat for a sport that takes place on the ice (but that may have just been me and my thing for hockey players). Brock Nelson, Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, Auston Matthews… balanced scoring for them, unbalanced swooning for me. Jack and Quinn Hughes both had a multi-score game, showing off their line chemistry, and putting the USA men’s team at the top of Group C early on, tied with another top team on points, and setting up some must win games vs Denmark and Germany to secure a solid knockout berth. This team skates like they’re a constellation in the sky, and they burn just as bright.
In case you were somehow unaware… Olympic hockey is BRUTAL. It’s short, and it’s merciless, with just a couple of wins locking in positioning, and one bad outing can fully end gold medal dreams. The USA still has some must-play preliminary opponents on deck before the knockout rounds get rolling, and Canada’s still rolling in Group A, so a medal path for the USA has the potential to be a brutal path if there’s even a single slip-up. Momentum is the real currency here, and everyone’s got their metaphorical wallet wide open and ready to spend.
Speaking of spending… have you ever wondered how professional athletes fund the grind? I don’t know if you know this, but training the way you have to in order to achieve Olympic glory costs money. Lots of it. Training is expensive, relentless, and for most athletes, it’s unpaid. Between facility rental (especially for athletes who compete on the ice), coaching, traveling, recovery time, and nutrition needs, the costs add up fast. It’s so pricey that some athletes have even begun to rely on OnlyFans to supplement their income with direct fan interaction so that they can afford to keep training full time. If you don’t believe me, go check out what Athlete OnlyFans creators are up to. It’s not gossip, it’s economics, and fans have the capacity to provide real support for athletes who are needing more autonomy over their image, income, and time. For young Olympians, platforms like OnlyFans have the capacity to fund expensive gear, camps, and a chance at being able to show up at all for the games.
The American boy aquarium is buzzing in Milan, Canada’s the early favorite, but the USA is firing on all cylinders and is ready to make some NOISE. I am wishing all of the USA teams the best of luck (not just hockey… women’s speed racing’s also on my radar). Remember: root hard, celebrate fully, and if it’s your thing… support them financially.
