Canada returns to Olympic glory following gold medal game victory over the United States
Canada is back on top of the women's hockey world following a 3-2 win over the United States in the gold medal game at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
It's been a long and tough four years for the Canadian Women's National Hockey Team. In 2018, they lost to the United States in a shootout in the gold medal game in South Korea. Then a year later they lost to the United States in the gold medal game of the IIHF Women's World Championship.
In 2021, they won the IIHF Women's World Championship for the first time since 2012 and used that victory to propel them towards success in this year's Winter Olympics.
The Canadian Women's National Team met in Calgary in early-Fall to go through the centralization process and played several exhibition games against the United States and a pair of games overseas in Finland.
Through a mix of youth, veteran leadership, speed, skill, determination and teamwork, Canada found a way to roll through the 2022 Olympics with a record of 7-0, outscoring their opponents 57-10.
During the gold medal game, Canada thought they opened the scoring through Natalie Spooner, but after a coach's challenge by the United States, it was determined that the play was offside and the goal was called back.
Just over a minute later, Sarah Nurse scored to give Canada a 1-0 lead. Nurse's goal gave her 17 points on the tournament, which tied Hall-of-Famer Hayley Wickenheiser for most points in a single Olympic Games.
SARAH NURSE 🚨 🇨🇦
After having a goal called off Canada wastes no time getting it back to take a 1-0 lead in the gold medal game
Watch on the CBC Sports app or @cbcgem pic.twitter.com/iZgiGhTdx6— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 17, 2022
With just under five minutes remaining in the first period, Marie-Philip Poulin scored to put Canada ahead 2-0. Poulin made history with that goal, becoming the first player (man or woman) to score in four Olympic gold medal games.
CAPTAIN CLUTCH 🚨
Marie-Philip Poulin with ANOTHER goal in a gold medal game to make it 2-0 Canada 🔥🔥🔥
Watch on the CBC Sports app or @cbcgem pic.twitter.com/jx5y3xgRJT— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 17, 2022
Flash forward to the second period, nearing the half-way point in the game, Poulin scores once again to give Canada a 3-0 lead on the Americans. With an assist on Poulin's second goal, Sarah Nurse set the record for most points in a single Olympic tournament with 18.
CAPTAIN CLUTCH X2 🚨 🇨🇦
Marie-Philip Poulin with another one for Canada as they take a 3-0 lead over the U.S. in the GOLD medal game 🏒
Watch on the CBC Sports app or @cbcgem pic.twitter.com/OhrBOTKthU— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 17, 2022
The United States would go on to score twice. First was Hillary Knight, who got the Americans on the board with a shorthanded goal late in the second period. Late in the third period, with only 13.5 seconds to go, Amanda Kessel would bring the United States within one goal, but it wasn't enough as Canada held on to bring home the gold medal in women's hockey for the first time since 2014 in Sochi.
🥇 GOLD FOR CANADA 🥇
Canada holds on to win GOLD in women's hockey at #Beijing2022 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Watch on the CBC Sports app or @cbcgem pic.twitter.com/USJZY3O7GQ— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 17, 2022
For her outstanding performance throughout Beijing 2022, including tying the record for most goals in a single Olympic Games with 9, Canada's Brianne Jenner was named the tournament's most valuable player.
Next up for these players, they'll return to their college or professional teams before gearing up for international competition in late-summer when the 2022 IIHF Women's World Hockey Championship is held in Denmark from August 26th to September 4th.
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Kyle Connor | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Alex Tuch | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Owen Power | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Michael Bunting | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Drew Helleson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jirí Kulich | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Isac Lundestrom | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Vladislav Namestnikov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Nino Niederreiter | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Gabriel Vilardi | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jason Zucker | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Leo Carlsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nikolaj Ehlers | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ross Johnston | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Evgeni Malkin | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Morrissey | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Cole Perfetti | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Bryan Rust | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Mark Scheifele | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Trevor Zegras | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 20 | 17 | 3 | - | 34 | |
Wild | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 29 | |
Hurricanes | 19 | 14 | 5 | - | 28 | |
Devils | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 28 | |
Capitals | 19 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 27 | |
Golden Knights | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Maple Leafs | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Rangers | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 25 | |
Panthers | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | |
Flames | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 25 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||