#WCH2016: Special mementos keep the game in perspective for Team USA

Team USA faces a must-win game against Canada tonight if it hopes to make the semifinals of the World Cup of Hockey.

Around that dressing room, there are some more subtle – yet significant – symbols of why players don the uniform for the United States. To start, more than a few sets of pads have an American flag sewn to the left breast.

“It was during the Sochi Olympics, we all got those American flags,” said defenseman Ryan McDonagh. “They were worn by Navy Seals that were overseas fighting in the war so they gave one out for everybody on the team and we had it sewn on (over the heart), because that’s where it’s sewn on (for our servicemen).

“I thought it was awesome that we got one of those, and I will continue to wear that the rest of my career.”

McDonagh says the flag patch reminds him how thankful he is to be able to play a game for a living – and he’s not alone. David Backes, his teammate in Sochi, and now again in the World Cup, still has the Special …

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