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Team Canada hockey player shares his feelings on getting a stuffed animal after loss to USA originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
If you watched the medal ceremony after the Olympics men's hockey gold medal game, you might've been confused by the stuffed animals.
Both the silver medalist Canada and gold medalist United States weren't just given medals. They were given a little plushie.
It was especially bizarre to watch the losing Canada team each be handled the little creature.
The stuffed animal featured Tina the Stoat, but also a stuffed "Flo" -- which is a tiny "impish" character, according to NBC.
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Tina the Stoat was one of two mascots for this games, along with Milo.
A stoat is a small creature, part of the weasel family. They're most closely related to otters and ferrets. Their coats can change color in the winter to camouflage against the snow. They look lighter, like Tina, in the winter, while they get darker, like Milo, in the summer.
And well, every Olympic medalist got one.
One reporter actually had the thought to ask a returning Team Canada player about the odd gift.
Logan Thompson, who was the backup goalie and is the Washington Capitals' netminder, was asked about it on Wednesday.
His answer, via Sammi Silber:
“It’s cool. It’s obviously a part of the experience. Overall, nothing bad and only good memories.”
Hopefully the Canadian players had someone fun to gift the plushie to, because it's a reminder of a cool opportunity that didn't quite end with gold.
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