The best feeling in the world is to see both the United States men and women hockey as they capture gold in their battles against Canada this past week. It has given everyone the feeling of what it is like to represent the red, white, and blue to see U.S. hockey makes history once again. They are the first in Olympics to sweep gold in hockey since Canada did it three times in 2002, 2010, and 2014.
For the first time since 1980, the US men’s hockey team would capture the gold as they defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime delivered by both Jack Hughes that took a pass from Zach Werenski.
The United States scored first on a Matt Boldy to make it 1-0 coming from the assists of both Auston Matthews and Quinn Hughes. It was the first 6 minutes in the start of the period. Canada would tie the game in the second period on a Cale Makar goal in the 18:16 mark to tie the game.
It would be easy to say that the hero of the game throughout the Olympics for Team USA is Connor Hellebuyck. The former Winnipeg Jets star is the reigning NHL MVP and winner of the Vezina Trophy as the best goaltender. He would stop 41 of 42 shots against Canada, 27 coming from the slot and 17 of them coming from the inner slot, according to Hockey Stats. His paddle save on Devon Toews on a point-blank chance was the best stop by a goalie in the tournament. His breakaway stop on Macklin Celebrini was equally as clutch. The Americans have had great performances from goalies in their history, from Jim Craig in the Miracle on Ice to Ryan Miller in Vancouver. None of them top what Hellebuyck gave the Americans in this gold medal game.
American men had not won gold since the famed “Miracle on Ice” team, which defeated the Soviet Union in 1980. Sunday’s win came exactly 46 years to the day of that victory (Feb. 22, 1980).
The women would capture gold last Thursday in their 2-1 decisive victory over Canada. Meagan Keller would deliver the game winner for the USA. Keller made a fantastic move to get past defender Claire Thompson and pushed the puck past Ann-Renée Desbiens for the clinching goal to conclude the women’s hockey tournament at the Games. Keller’s teammates scrambled to embrace her after she secured Team USA’s first gold medal since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.
The United States has medaled at every Olympics since women’s hockey became an official sport in 1998. This first-place finish is the third in Team USA history.
The victory also improved the United States’ record against Canada in Olympic gold-medal games to 3-4. The bordering nations have met in the championship in all but one tournament, and Team USA reigned victorious in two of the last three.
With the wins, both US men and women hockey have inspired major celebrities and analysts to go viral on Instagram, X, and Tik-Tok to spread their congratulations, including Tom Brady, Devin Booker, etc.
