Team USA's Charlie McAvoy reveals how long he's been thinking about playing Canada at Olympics

This is what hockey players dream of.

Charlie McAvoy assured the reporters he spoke to on Saturday of that.

Team USA's defenseman was asked the day before the gold medal game against Canada if he's been thinking about this game since last year's 4 Nations Faceoff final.

He stepped in with a correction:

"Since you were a kid," McAvoy said. "Since the first time you watched Miracle."

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With the exception of Canada captain Sidney Crosby, none of these players have been at the Olympics before. The last time the NHL allowed its players to compete was 2014.

That makes this the biggest international hockey stage any of these guys have been on. It promises to be special.

These are the two most talented rosters in the world, and the intensity will be at a massive high in Milan.

They're mostly healthy, too, and if Crosby can play for Canada, that'll add to the level of talent on the ice.

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McAvoy and the Americans will be considered the underdog, but they have the ability to beat this Canadian team.

Last year in the 4 Nations final, the game went to overtime before Canada won.

This time, the United States would like to reverse the script.

They've all dreamed of this stage. Now, they're on it.

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