PLATTSBURGH — Hobie’s Sports Den hosted the community for the Olympic hockey game with beers and breakfast Sunday morning.
Hobie’s patrons filled the bar with cheer and led a USA chant after Team USA secured the gold medal in men’s hockey during overtime.
Makensie Donoghue said she and her boyfriend, Noah Hargrave, are big hockey fans. They even brought their 8-month-old, Sadie, to watch her very first hockey game.
“We are excited to be here. My dad was a huge fan of the 1980 game,” she said.
Donoghue grew up watching games with her dad, and her brother played hockey.
Longtime hockey fans Tara Lawrence and Rick Lamberton said they came out for the crowd and good vibes.
“My favorite event is the hockey games,” Lawrence said.
Her daughter was watching the game along with them in Port Smith, New Hampshire. Since they couldn’t be together, they thought Hobie’s was a good option.
Lawrence said the game was “simply amazing” and was happy Team USA took the victory.
“Canada dominated the game, but the U.S. came in and scored the winning goal,” Lamberton said. “They deserved it.”
For Tiffany Kirk, a Team USA fan, the game Sunday was an opportunity to catch up on the nation’s athletic history in the Olympic context.
“I actually just watched the documentary on the 1980 game, ‘Miracle,’” she said. “I came out to be Team USA.”
Danielle Ross said she has watched upwards of 50 hours of Winter Olympic content this past week. As a huge fan of hockey, she was excited for this game.
“I am really happy to be out with my friends and my new friends,” she said. “This is fantastic.”
Connor Good and Dan Badger were nervous there wouldn’t be too many people out for the game due, but both were pleasantly surprised upon walking into a full bar that morning.
Badger, who grew up playing the sport, said it was good to see the U.S. scoring, and he enjoys the rivalries between countries.
Zach Bieber, who watched with friends, said the game brings people together.
“With what’s been going on right now politically, it’s good to see something bring people together, under one nation,” he said.
Lifetime player Ryan Lynch, who said he has played the sport for 35 out of his 40 years, wore a signed Mike Eruzione jersey, the scorer of the winning goal in 1980, to celebrate his team.
“I grew up playing the sport. I am a massive fan,” he said, excited to watch the game at Hobie’s and not at home. “I wanted to be with everybody who also enjoys the game,”
Lynch said he is “Team USA all the way” and felt the energy for this game building for a year and a half.
“I think people should know they are witnessing history. These are some of the best players in the game, and you are not going to see this caliber of play in a long time,” Lynch said.
He cheered when Jack Hughes scored the winning goal in overtime.
“I am just happy with the way it went,” Lynch said at a loss of words. “What a game.”