Former Tri City American Leads Germany to Olympic Gold Medal Game

If you remember the Tri-City Americans only trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2010, then this guy was a part of it. Now, he's helped Germany reach never before levels of success in the Winter Olympics.

Friday morning, the Germans knocked off Canada 4-3 to advance to the Gold Medal Game Sunday (Saturday night here) in South Korea. Germany, who hadn't won a game in the Olympics since 2006, went winless in 2010 and 2014, and had to use the qualifier just to get IN this year. Former Tri-City American Brooks Macek scored the first goal for Germany in the win over Canada, an upset considered by many to be as big as The Miracle On Ice in 1980.

Macek played 2 1/2 seasons as an American from 2008 through 2010-11 before being traded to Calgary. He scored 37 goals and 84 assists, and continued scoring well with the Hitmen.

Despite being a 2010 10th round draft pick of Detroit (171st overall) he chose to play in Germany for the highly regarded Iserlohn Roosters. After 4 years there, he signed with ECH Munchen. He joined the German National Team in 2015, and has helped Germany begin to restore some hockey pride.

Macek, who was born in Canada, has had dual citizenship with Germany as well, due to his relatives being from there, including his dad.

The Germans had never beaten Canada in the Winter Games, going 0-12 until Friday. With that loss, and the U.S. women knocking off the maple leaf's 3-time gold winning team, Canada has had a rough go of it in their native sport in Pyeong Chang.