An Undefeated World Championship

AN UNDEFEATED WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP season and a gold medal in the previous Olympics gave the United States women’s hockey team an air of confidence heading into Salt Lake City for the 2002 Winter Games.

Early on it appeared as if the Americans had plenty of reason to be confident as they advanced through the competition to the gold medal game. Riding a 35-game winning streak, Team USA hoped to defeat Canada, America’s old nemesis and toughest opponent, for the second straight time and hold on to bragging rights.

But Team Canada took the lead less than two minutes into the gold-medal game with Caroline Ouellette scoring. The United States tied the game early in the second period on Kane King’s power play, but Canada regained the lead a few minutes later as Hayley Wickenheiser scored off the rush.

With only a second remaining in period two, Jayna Hefford made the victory-clinching goal for the Canadians. Taking a fumbled clearing pass, she broke unabated toward the net and fired the puck past American goalie Sara DeCosta.

The United States narrowed the gap to 3–2 early in the third period on a power-play goal by Karyn Bye. But with goalie Kim St. Pierre stopping 25 of the 27 American shots, Team Canada captured the 2002 gold medal.

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POINT What happened to the USA hockey team? Were they as good as the Canadians? Did they play as hard? Yes, the teams both played hard and were fairly equal in talent. Perhaps the American women felt overconfident, and the Canadian women had more reasons to win.

In athletics, confidence often plays a role in victory. But overconfidence can also be a factor in defeat.

In the Bible, the apostle Paul had plenty of reason to boast, but he chose not to. Instead he let his words and actions do the talking. God wants us to be confident in our talents and abilities. But he doesn’t want us to be cocky and overconfident.

GOAL! Praise God for the confidence we have in him. Ask him to provide you with healthy confidence and to allow your actions—not your mouth—to do the talking.