But a silver medal showing by Team USA also accomplished many goals according to Roenick.
"We hope we set a precedent for USA Hockey," Roenick said. "We hope we attracted people who weren't fans of hockey. I think we made a big stir in the U.S.. I think everyone has been following our team. I think we've done a lot to encourage hockey in this country.
"It was a great game," Roenick said. "Today was their day."
Roenick has been born for the big stage. He has showed star power throughout his NHL career, basking in the limelight in Chicago, Phoenix and Philadelphia.
He is a singular individual, one who needs to play "JR Hockey" and when he does that, Roenick plays extremely well.
The gold medal game between the United States and Canada provided Roenick with the largest stage of his professional life.
"I've been to the Stanley Cup Finals once in my career, but we lost four straight, so I would say this has to rank up there as the highlight of my career," Roenick said.
"Our last game (against Russia in the Olympics semifinals) was one of the best games I've ever been involved with."
Roenick is part of the generation of U.S. players who became hooked on hockey after watching the 1980 Miracle on Ice. In fact, Roenick was just 10-years-old when Herb Brooks helped the U.S. upset the Soviet Union on the way to the gold medal. Four years later, a 14-year-old Roenick played for a U.S. Select team.
"I hope a lot of kids are watching and getting energized," Roenick said. "The 1980 Miracle on Ice made me want to be an Olympian."
Roenick has gone on to have a tremendous career representing the United States. He led all scorers at the 1989 World Junior Championships, scoring eight goals and eight assists.. Roenick also played at the 1988 WJCs too. Roenick also played for Team USA at the 1991 World Championships and the Canada Cup, where he was named to that tournament's all-star team, scoring four goals and two assists in eight games.
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Roenick and the Americans tasted defeat for the first time in Sunday's gold medal game.
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A 1998 U.S. Olympian, Roenick has been an energetic member of Brooks' 2002 entry, a club that had not lost a game as it headed to the gold medal game.
"I'm fighting back tears just realizing we're going to get a medal, much less a gold," Roenick said on the eve of the gold medal game. "I think we match up real well with Canada, but I don't think anyone has the advantage over anyone.
"Hockey is Canada's game," Roenick said. "We respect that. They're proud people."
And so is Roenick when it comes to the hockey efforts of the United States.
"A lot of people said we couldn't do it, but we did," Roenick said.
"There is an intense competition between us," Roenick said of the Americans' rivalry with Canada. "We respect each other very much. We live with each other all year long. But yes, this is a big rivalry. But the United States doesn't hate Canada and I hope Canada doesn't hate the United States.
"For us, respect among each other is huge," Roenick said. "Look at the players Canada has. (Mario) Lemieux, (Joe) Sakic and (Steve) Yzerman are some of the top players in the world. Heck, my favorite player is Steve Yzerman and he's a Canadian."
Batten down the hatches, here comes the JR punch line.
"But, hey, the U.S. is the best country in the world," Roenick says with the glint glowing in his eye. "Canada is a close second."
That didn't turn out to be the case Sunday, but the loss couldn't diminish the joy of the Olympics for Roenick. Perhaps that makes him the biggest winner of all.
