The United States of America is the greatest hockey nation in the world, as proved by the double gold success of the mens and womens teams at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
First, the womens team, led by captains Hillary Knight and Megan Keller, won a tightly contested game in overtime against Canada, their first gold since the 2018 games.
The womens game started slow offensively, with the first goal from Canada coming with less than a minute left in the second period. After giving up that shorthanded goal, the US had to rally going into the third, and rally they did. With two minutes left in regulation, Knight deflected the puck into the goal for the tying score. After the game tying goal, the US seemed to lighten up and believe that they could win it.
“We knew it was a matter of time, but you could also run out of time against a great team. We’re fortunate to have a great squad to get the job done,” said Knight, according to NHL.com.
Going into OT, the US was determined to win, and just four minutes into the overtime period, Keller had an opportunity to end the game. After a length of the ice pass from Taylor Heise, Keller was set up with just one defender between her and the goalie. With an easy deke Keller got by the defender, setting up a clear shot on goal, which sealed the gold medal for the Americans.
“This is an incredible feeling. I love these girls so much. This group deserves it. Just the effort and the faith that we kept through this four-year journey is something very special,” said Keller, according to NHL.com.
A couple of days later, an eerily similar game unfolded for the mens team in their gold medal match, also against the Canadians.
This time, the US scored the first goal just six minutes in from Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy, which would stand as the US’s only goal until the winner in overtime.
Canada responded in the second period with a goal from Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar during an onslaught of shots from the Canadian team that lasted from midway through the second through the third period.
In total US goalie and NHL MVP Connor Hellebuyck stopped 41 shots to keep the game close for the Americans to win it.
“He was our best player by a mile,” Boldy said, according to ESPN. “He’s an absolute stud. He wants to be in those moments. He wants to make the saves. And he did just that, so he was definitely our MVP.”
The game winner came early into overtime, just over a minute in, when Zach Werenski passed the puck up to Jack Hughs, who took a one-on-one shot against the goalie for the win.
This win gave the US their first gold medal in mens hockey since the 1980 season, which included the miracle on ice game. This game was also the first time the US has beaten Canada in an international game since the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, making the gold medal even sweeter.
Most of the American and Canadian players will take the ice again this Wednesday, Feb. 25, with eight NHL games scheduled right after their return from Italy.
