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Drew Doughty admits he almost showed up late for the Olympic Gold Medal Game

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Much like Jonathan Toews, Drew Doughty played beyond his stunningly young age (20) in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics as Team Canada managed to win a gold medal. Doughty fit right in with veterans such as team captain Scott Niedermayer, so it almost seemed like his transition to the highest level of hockey was seamless.

It may have been on the ice, but when it came to getting to the game on time, he looked like ... well, a teenager showing up late to work because his alarm clock malfunctioned. Tony Gallagher of the Vancouver Province caught up with a bashful Doughty, who admitted that he missed both of the team’s buses to the biggest game of his life.

“Who told you that,” said Doughty Saturday morning as a huge smile crept across his face meaning that denying it was pointless anyway at this point unless he thought he was dealing with a total turnip. “Yeah it’s true. I missed both busses, the early and the late but I wasn’t late. We were told we had to be at the rink two hours before the game and I got a cab over and made it on time. Not my proudest moment but it all worked out.”

There was the implication that Doughty had been out the night before hoisting a jar or two although not in Russian style. But given the way he played that day, it seems highly unlikely he had more than one or two and simply slept in for the early 12:15 p.m. start time. But given he wasn’t denying the story, the rest of it goes this way.

Getting a cab from the athletes village to what was being called Canada Hockey Place at the time left you still quite a ways from the actual rink. So he had to go through the gathering crowds and was recognized by several people trying to get near the building entrance. Upon reaching the rink, his story about being who he was met with considerable skepticism from the army of security and it wasn’t until Mike Richards was summoned from the Team Canada dressing room that Doughty made it through to get ready for the game.


Luckily (well, maybe not luckily for Team USA), Doughty was able to play in that game and did well for himself.

If the NHL participates in the Sochi Olympics in 2014, let’s hope Doughty invests in a heartier alarm clock, though. Chances are he’ll be an even more obvious choice as a blue line leader for Team Canada (if he can show up to the games, that it is).