USA Hockey is do-or-die!

Ryan Lindgren awoke in Montreal on the morning of January 5th, 2017, the day he would play in the biggest game of his life. Lindgren was going to skate for Team USA, against Canada, in the gold medal game of the World Junior Championship. 

There was only one problem. He could not get out of bed.

RYAN: Jake Oettinger was my roommate, and you can ask him, I was throwing up every couple of minutes. I did everything I could to try and get up, but I’ve never been so sick.

(…)

So when Oettinger walked out the door to join his teammates for the opportunity of a lifetime, Lindgren was left with only emotional anguish to match his physical suffering. 

RYAN: Having to miss that game… when they took off I just sat in my room and I cried.

(…)

During Team USA’s perfect run in the tournament, captain Luke Kunin lead the Americans in a special postgame victory chant. But after winning gold, Kunin gave the honors to Lindgren. 

RYAN: It was unbelievable. Usually the captain’s the one that does that final [chant], but he’s just a guy that’s very selfless and was willing to let me do it, and it was just really special. 

(…)

Because of the illness, Lindgren drove back to Minnesota with his family— 20 hours in the car. As soon as he returned, he checked into a hospital, and spent 4 days there. He lost 15 lbs through the ordeal.

(…)

He is expected to have a key role on the American blue line in Buffalo. This time, until the very last shift.

Injury updates on Kreider, Vesey, Buchnevich, Shattenkirk and Staal.

USA v FIN (5—4 W | 12.31.17) Postgame: Trent Frederic and Adam Fox