TORONTO – Perhaps the time has finally come, at least after he led the 2016 World Cup of Hockey with five goals, to graciously strip Brad Marchand of the “Little Ball of Hate” label famously yoked to him by President Barack Obama more than four years ago. Might we suggest, inspired by his miraculous, last-minute shorthanded strike in Thursday night’s 2-1 win for Team Canada, the Little Ball of Fate. Or, owing to his ensuing celebration—arms whirling and legs leaping like the winger wanted to fly—the Little Ball who Elates.
Or perhaps we should simply settle for the image of Marchand behind the microphone in the Air Canada Centre media room, sitting next to captain Sidney Crosby, laughing and smiling and smelling like beer, no longer the pest that everyone once judged him…
“Let’s not kid ourselves,” Team Canada coach Mike Babcock said.