As consolation prizes go, a small stuffed animal is a poor substitute for Olympic gold.
But that was the case for the Canadian women’s hockey team on Thursday in Milan, where they were they received a small toy alongside their Olympic hardware after falling to rival Team USA, 2-1, in overtime.
NBC cameras captured the disappointed faces as organizers presented them with a miniaturized version of the Olympic mascot, a white stoat named Tina. And unfortunately for the runners up, that footage has now gone viral.
‘Losing in OT then getting handed a consolation plushie on live ice is nasty work,’ one fan wrote on X. ‘Let them grieve in peace.’
Canada’s Daryl Watts looked particularly annoyed to receive Tina. The Toronto native was seen staring down at the stuffed toy before sighing and staring off into the crowd.
‘Ouch, that’s a rough way to celebrate a silver medal,’ another fan wrote on X. ‘Team Canada deserved a bit more respect after that intense overtime battle.’
Canada’s Daryl Watts looked particularly annoyed to receive Tina. The Toronto native was seen staring down at the stuffed toy before sighing and staring off into the crowd
Team Canada was less than thrilled to receive a small stuffed mascot named Tina
Team Canada is seen holding Tina, the white stoat serving as the Winter Olympics mascot
Canadian players were seen crying after Thursday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the rival Americans
The stuffed animals are not a new tradition. Typically medal winners receive some miniaturized version of that year’s Olympic mascot, and the practice inevitably leads to awkward moments like the one forced upon Team Canada on Thursday in Milan.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s White House wasn’t offering any sympathy for Team Canada amid an ongoing trade war between the two countries.
‘WE ARE SO BACK,’ read an X post from the White House account. ‘RED, WHITE, & BLUE RUNNING THROUGH OUR VEINS.’
Canada’s loss was its eighth straight international defeat to Team USA, which has now won three Olympic gold medals in women’s hockey. The Americans also beat Team Canada, 5-0, in the preliminary round.
‘In my opinion, I think this is the best hockey team women’s hockey has ever seen,’ Team USA’s Kelly Pannek told the Associated Press. ‘I think that’s a part of being a champion, right?’ Pannek continued. ‘We knew they were going to respond in the way that they do. And they gave us everything.’
