Grahame’s Olympic Pride From 2006 Winter Games Has Lasting Effect in Life After Hockey

Grahame embraced what he remembers as an honor: putting personal goals on hold in favor of a collective opportunity to wear the Red, White, and Blue.

Goaltender John Grahame of the Tampa Bay Lightning shows off his Torino 2006 Olympic hockey jersey during a portrait session at the Garden City Hotel in Garden City, New York on Jan.1, 2006. Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

For John Grahame, a member of Team USA Hockey in the 2006 Winter Games held in Turin, Italy, Olympic pride is difficult to define.

During the 2006 Winter Games, Grahame was one of three goalies on the roster whom coach Peter Laviolette welcomed aboard, representing America. Of the six games Team USA skated, Grahame received the nod to start in goal in the opening contest with Team Latvia. It is also the only Team USA game in the Olympics to end in a tie, 3–3.