Two overtime thrillers against longstanding rival, Team Canada, at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics allowed Team USA to bring home the gold, and create history.
The success for Team USA hockey began on Thursday, with the women’s team beating Canada 2-1 in overtime. The women’s team has appeared in all except one gold medal match, facing Canada each time, since women’s hockey made its debut at the 1998 Nagano Olympics. Including this year’s win, the team has only walked away with three gold medals.
The women trailed for most of the match, with Hilary Knight only scoring the tying goal with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. Megan Keller then scored the game-winning goal, securing the team’s third Olympic gold medal. The match is historic for being the first time a black American, Laila Edwards, has won a medal in Olympic ice hockey.
The men’s team is known for making history, being the original “Miracle on Ice.” They beat the defending champions, the Soviet Union, 4-3 on Feb. 22, 1980, during the Lake Placid winter Olympics. 46 years later to the day, the team won gold again, this time beating Canada 2-1.
This is only the men’s hockey team’s third gold medal, not winning one since the legendary 1980 game. The game-winning goal was scored by Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, allowing the Americans to celebrate once again.
“This is all about our country right now,” said Hughes in a post-game interview. “I love the USA. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable. The USA hockey brotherhood is so strong, and we have so much support from ex-players, and I’m so proud to be American today.”
The win for Team USA is only made more special by its dedication to Johnny Gaudreau, an NHL player who lost his life in 2024. The team honored this win by bringing a jersey with Gaudreau’s name, along with his two children, down to center ice for the team picture following the medal ceremony.
These wins combined have made history, being the first time both the United States women’s and men’s ice hockey teams have won gold in the same Olympics. A defining moment against longtime rival, Canada, and proof of America’s athletic dominance to the world.
