GANGNEUNG, South Korea -- They came in wearing USA hockey jerseys and cowboy hats and, over in one corner, a full Superman outfit. One man had a cap that was in the shape of a bald eagle and there was a plethora of NHL sweaters: New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, the Minnesota Wild and the Vancouver Canucks (presumably, that fan was lost). The chants of "U-S-A" were long and loud and constant.
On the other side, there were Russia jerseys, Soviet jerseys and at least one sweater from a team in the Kontinental Hockey League. Two women had gray "Olympic Athlete from Russia" jackets, a group unfurled an "Olympic Fans of Russia" banner and a graybeard wrapped himself in the hammer-and-sickle flag.