The Birth of a Legacy: USA Hockey’s Iconic Victory Song
A Tradition Born in the 90s
For those who have been part of the US National Team Program, the victory song “USA Hockey is Do or Die” has been a familiar tune since at least the 1990s. However, for the rest of us, 2010 marked the first time we ever heard this chant, and what a rendition it was! Danny Kristo’s powerful vocals and stage presence set the bar high, and USA Hockey has yet to find someone to match his energy.
A Program on the Rise
Fast forward to 2010, and USA Hockey was on the cusp of something special. The team’s victory at the World Juniors marked only the second time a US team had ever sung the chant at the tournament. In fact, prior to 2004, no US team had ever had the chance to sing it at the World Juniors. But last night, the team made history once again, securing their third World Junior Ice Hockey Championship title in just five years.
A Golden Era
The past decade has been a golden era for USA Hockey, with a string of U18 World Championships and World Junior titles. The 2009-12 U18 gold, mixed with the 2010 WJC gold, set the tone for what was to come. The 2013 WJC gold, 2014-15 U18 gold, 2017 U18 and WJC gold, 2021 WJC gold, 2023 U18 gold, and 2024-25 WJC gold have all contributed to a program that is now synonymous with excellence.
A Dream Come True
For the current team, singing the victory song is a dream come true. Having grown up with Danny Kristo’s iconic rendition, they’ve had the chance to live out their childhood fantasies, belting out “ohhh mama don’t you cry” in the locker room after winning gold. This team has had the most practice singing it, but that doesn’t make it any less nerve-wracking for Ryan Leonard leading it for the first time.
The Future is Bright
As USA Hockey looks to the future, one thing is certain – the victory song will continue to be an integral part of their tradition. And who knows? Maybe next year, we’ll get to see an unedited version of the team singing it loud and proud.
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