Canadian Women Dominate on Route to Gold

Canada posing for a photo after defeating Team USA 3-2 on route to reclaiming the gold medal in Women's Hockey at Beijing 2022. Credit: @TeamCanada Twitter account

Canada has won the gold medal in Women's Hockey for the fifth time. This is the seventh time that the event has been held at the Olympic Games.

Canada thought they had gotten the lead in the first on a goal by Natalie Spooner, however, after a Coaches challenge, it was deemed offside. That did not slow down the Canadians, as Sarah Nurse scores shortly after and Captain Clutch Marie-Philip Poulin added a second one for Canada in the period,

Canada up 2-0 after the first, extended their lead to 3-0 after Poulin, known for scoring when it matters most, scored her second of the game. Team USA did not go quietly as Hilary Knight scored shorthanded to cut the deficit to two.

Up 3-1 going into the third Canada was playing strong defensively with credit going to goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens. With 13.5 seconds to go and the goaltender pulled, in a crazy sequence of events, Team USA scores on the powerplay thanks to a goal by Amanda Kessel.

However, it was too little too late as Canada hung on to win 3-2. Desbiens made 38 saves and Poulin with yet another golden goal for Canada.

We have become used to seeing Canada and the US in the gold medal game. Including Beijing, Canada and the US have met up in the gold medal game six out of seven times.

The first matchup in 1998 Team USA defeated Canada 3-1 for the first ever Women’s Hockey Olympic Gold. Since then, Canada went on a tear defeating Team USA 3-2 in 2002, 2-0 in 2010 and 3-2 in overtime in 2014.

In 2006, the Americans failed to make the gold medal game as Canada defeated Sweden 4-1. They had to settle for the bronze medal defeating Finland 4-0.

In 2018, the US put a stop to Canada’s gold medal streak at four. Team USA found their way back on top for the first time since the sport debuted at the Olympics, defeating Canada in a shootout by a score of 3-2.

Canada has a record of 5-2 in gold medal games at the Olympics and 4-2 when they play Team USA in that game.

This is arguably one of the best if not the best Canadian teams ever assembled at the Olympic Games. Having a perfect record is nothing new, but Canada outscored their opponents 57-10.

Canada had nine of the top-12 tournament scoring leaders. Sarah Nurse led the way with 18 points, the most ever in a single Olympics. The previous record was 17, held by Hayley Wickenheiser in 2006.

Brianne Jenner led in goals with nine, tied for most in an Olympic Games and Nurse led in assists with 13.

Claire Thompson, an Olympic rookie, had the most points by a defenceman with 13, two goals and 11 assists. She also led in +/- with a +23. Another Olympic rookie, Erin Ambrose led all defencemen with four goals.

One rookie making headlines early was 21-year-old Sarah Fillier. In her first Olympics, she stood out contributing eight goals and three assists to Canada’s dominance.

Canada with a mix of youth and veterans put up an impressive showing on their way to winning gold. What we have learned is that the future is bright and this will be a fun team to watch in the upcoming World Championships.

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