If there’s one thing Canadians can all agree on, it’s their love of hockey. However, their dominance in the sport remains in jeopardy. With the conclusion of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the United States brought home two gold medals for hockey, one for each men’s and women’s team, both defeating Canada in the gold medal game.
The U.S. men’s national team, led by NHL head coach Mike Sullivan, came into the Olympics with a dominating roster. Since 2014, NHL players have not been allowed to compete in the Winter Olympics due to the league’s scheduling restrictions. However, following an NHL agreement in early 2024, league stars such as Jack Hughes, Auston Matthews and Connor Hellebuyck all became eligible to play for Team USA.
The men’s team began its playoff run against a heavy-hitting Team Sweden. The game was tied 1-1 after Sweden’s Mika Zibanejad scored to deliver the game into overtime. Quinn Hughes scored the winning goal for Team USA, defeating Sweden 2-1 in a close game, sending the United States into the semifinals. In the semifinals, Team USA dominated Slovakia with a 6-2 win to advance to the gold medal game.
Canada’s team featured some of the best players in the world, including Connor McDavid, who was later voted the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Best Forward. The game came down to the wire, with goalie Connor Hellebuyck, aptly named “Secretary of Defense” by President Donald Trump, recorded 41 saves. In overtime, center Jack Hughes scored the game-winning shot 2-1, handing the United States their first gold medal in hockey since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” game.
The women’s team, led by head coach John Wroblewski, dominated the playoff field more than the men’s team. Coming in with a first-round bye, the women’s team shut out the host country, Italy, 6-0, with the Americans’ five total goals coming into the second period, including two by forward Kendall Coyne Schofield, and goals by defense Laila Edwards, forward Britta Curl (shorthanded), and forward Hannah Bilka. In the semi-finals versus Sweden, scoring give total of goals from Cayla Barnes, Taylor Heise, Abbey Murphy, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Hayley Scamurra, winning 5-0.
The gold medal game versus Canada was just as close as it was for the men’s. Early in the second period, Canadian forward Kristin O’Neill scored a shorthand goal 54 seconds into the game. The United States responded late in the third period, with captain and forward Hilary Knight tying the game 1-1 in regulation to send the game into overtime. Defender Megan Keller had the game-winning goal and brought home the gold for the United States, with the final score being 2-1. The performances from the goaltenders may have been the winning factor in the women’s playoff run, with Gwyneth Philips and Aerin Frankel combining for 56 total saves throughout the tournament.
The women’s team has had more recent success than the men’s as of late, their last gold medal victory coming in 2018 versus Canada, 2-3. The popularity of women’s hockey was something unexpected this season and for the first time since women’s hockey debuted at the 1998 Olympics, all three top scorers were American. The total dominance of American women’s hockey is shown in their overall scoring record of 33-2. When you only let up two goals during the entire season, great things can happen.
As the athletes return from Italy, their effort should not go unnoticed. The performance by Team USA shows that hockey is still one of America’s greatest pastimes.
