MILAN – Team USA’s women’s hockey squad claimed Olympic gold Thursday evening in dramatic fashion, overcoming Canada 2-1 in an overtime battle that delivered payback against their northern rivals at the Milano Cortina Olympics.
Megan Keller delivered the championship-clinching goal in sudden death, toppling the defending titleholders in a heart-stopping contest that sent American supporters into celebration mode at Santagiulia Arena.
The Americans appeared destined for another heartbreak against their longtime adversaries after falling behind late in the final period, reminiscent of their defeat to Canada four years earlier.
However, team captain Hilary Knight stepped up when it mattered most in her fifth Olympic appearance, evening the score to force the championship match into three-on-three overtime play. Keller then maneuvered past defender Claire Thompson and tucked the puck beyond Canada’s netminder to secure America’s third Olympic women’s hockey championship.
The matchup delivered another memorable installment in hockey’s most intense rivalry, with capacity crowds alternating between “Canada!” and “USA!” chants from the opening faceoff.
Despite entering as favorites after blanking Canada 5-0 during preliminary play, the Americans faced early resistance as Canadian goalkeeper Ann-Renee Desbiens delivered an outstanding first-period performance.
Team USA had an excellent opportunity to break through with an early second-period power play advantage. However, Canada capitalized on their defensive stand when Laura Stacey intercepted the puck at center ice, advanced forward and fed Kristin O’Neill, who executed a skillful backhand maneuver for a short-handed score.
Trailing for the first time during the tournament, the United States struggled to solve Desbiens until pulling their goaltender for an additional attacker with roughly two minutes remaining in regulation time.
Knight deflected a shot from Olympic newcomer Laila Edwards to net their crucial equalizer, simultaneously establishing a new U.S. women’s Olympic Winter Games scoring record.
“She’s been a part of every historic moment since she’s been a part of this team. For her to get that goal was obviously most important for our team but also just a huge honour for her to break that record,” said Kelly Pannek, Knight’s teammate on their 2018 gold medal-winning group.
“It’s something we all want for her.”
This marked the third occasion in four recent Olympics where these nations required overtime to decide their championship meeting, with spectators holding their breath until Keller concluded the contest just over four minutes into the extra session.
“Everything happened fast,” Desbiens said of the score that just squeaked over the line. “I’ll see that one for a long time.”
American goaltender Aerin Frankel rose to the occasion as well, ultimately stopping 30 of 31 Canadian attempts.
With coach John Wroblewski shedding tears of happiness on the sideline, the American squad celebrated wildly while their Canadian counterparts watched solemnly before the medal presentation, as supporters danced to Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA.”
The result extended Canada’s losing streak against the Americans to eight consecutive games.
Canada previously held dominance over the United States with five Olympic championships. However, warning signs emerged before they took the ice in Milan.
Team USA captured last year’s world championship before sweeping Canada in their four-game November and December rivalry series, creating unease among Canadian supporters heading into the Olympics.
As American youth prevailed over Canadian veteran experience Thursday, U.S. supporters can anticipate future success, given several college players on the roster have yet to enter professional competition.
The Americans competed in their seventh Olympic championship contest, missing only one title game since women’s hockey joined the Olympic program in 1998. Switzerland earned bronze earlier Thursday with a 2-1 overtime victory against Sweden.
