It is common place for the United States to face Canada in the gold medal game in women’s hockey. Since 1998, only once has Canada not faced the United States in the gold medal game.
However, it is a lot more uncommon in men’s hockey. Only twice before has Canada faced the United States for the gold medal in the Olympic men’s hockey tournament. The first time was at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, and the second time at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
2002 Olympic Winter Games
This was a memorable Olympic Winter Games for Team Canada, because it was their first gold medal in men’s hockey since the 1952 Olympic Winter Games in Oslo when the Edmonton Mercurys won the Olympic men’s hockey tournament.
Team Canada completed the hockey double over the United States in 2002. In the gold medal game in women’s hockey, Canada beat the USA 3-2.
Canada won their seventh gold medal in men’s hockey in the history of the Winter Olympics. In a 5-2 win over the United States at the E Center in West Valley City, Utah, Team Canada got two goals each from Joe Sakic of Burnaby, British Columbia and Jarome Iginla of Edmonton, Alberta. At the time, Sakic was playing for the Colorado Avalanche and Iginla was playing for the Calgary Flames.
2010 Olympic Winter Games
This was an iconic Canadian moment, and possibly the biggest moment in the history of Canadian sport. Sidney Crosby’s golden goal had ultra significance.
When Crosby scored from the side boards at 7:40 of the extra period in a 3-2 Canada win over the United States, Canada set the record for the most gold medals ever at a single Olympic Winter Games with 14.
Like the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Canada beat the United States in the gold medal game in women’s hockey too. On two goals from Marie-Philip Poulin of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada won 2-0.
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