US Stuns Canada to Clinch Olympic Ice Hockey Gold After 46 Years
The United States has finally ended its long wait for men’s Olympic ice hockey glory, defeating Canada 2-1 in a nail-biting overtime final at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games. Jack Hughes scored the golden goal just 1 minute 41 seconds into overtime, sealing a historic win that revived memories of the iconic 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’ triumph over the Soviet Union in Lake Placid.
US President Donald Trump was among the first to congratulate the champions, praising the team’s performance and calling the win a memorable moment for American sport.
Intense atmosphere for US vs Canada Olympic ice hockey final
The US vs Canada Olympic ice hockey final was played in a charged atmosphere at the Santagiulia Arena in Milan. The American players were loudly booed when they came out for the warm-up, as the stands appeared to be filled with a Canadian-majority crowd. However, the mood shifted once the puck dropped and the game got underway.
Chants of “USA, USA” grew louder as the United States settled into the contest and started to create chances. Their early pressure was rewarded when Matt Boldy opened the scoring in the first period, giving the US a 1-0 lead and putting Canada under immediate pressure.
Canada fights back after early US lead
For much of the game, USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stood firm between the pipes. He stopped the first 24 shots he faced, frustrating the Canadian forwards and keeping his team in front. Canada, however, refused to fade away in this US vs Canada Olympic ice hockey showdown.
Their breakthrough finally came in the second period. Defenceman Cale Makar beat Hellebuyck with a precise wrist shot that slipped over the pad and into the net, levelling the score at 1-1 and setting up a tense finish. From that point on, both teams tightened up defensively, knowing that a single mistake could decide the Olympic gold.
Jack Hughes delivers golden overtime winner
With the scores tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, the US vs Canada Olympic ice hockey final went into a three-on-three overtime period. The open ice suited the pace and skill of the American forwards, and it did not take long for them to make the most of it.
Just 1 minute and 41 seconds into overtime, Jack Hughes produced the decisive moment. Seizing his chance, he found the back of the net to secure a 2-1 victory and the men’s Olympic ice hockey gold medal for the United States. His goal sent US players and supporters into wild celebrations as the long wait for another Olympic title came to an end.
This triumph marks the first men’s Olympic ice hockey gold for the US since 1980, when an underdog American team stunned the heavily favoured Soviet Union in the ‘Miracle on Ice’ before going on to win gold.
Emotional tribute to Johnny Gaudreau
After the final whistle, celebrations on the ice carried a deeply emotional touch. The American players skated around the rink holding up a jersey with the name “Gaudreau” and the number 13 printed on the back. The gesture was a tribute to former NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, who died in August 2024 along with his brother Matthew after being hit by a drunk driver while cycling in New Jersey.
The tribute underlined how much the victory meant to the team beyond the medal itself. It turned the US vs Canada Olympic ice hockey final into not only a historic sporting contest, but also a moment of remembrance and unity for American hockey.
Finland claim bronze in men’s ice hockey
While the spotlight was on the US vs Canada Olympic ice hockey gold medal match, the bronze medal game also produced a strong performance. Finland, the defending champions from Beijing 2022, earned a dominant 6-1 win over Slovakia to secure third place on the podium.
The result ensured that Finland remained among the leading nations in men’s Olympic ice hockey, even though they could not repeat their gold-medal success from the previous Games.
Eileen Gu makes Winter Olympic history in freeski
Earlier in the day, the focus at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics had been on freestyle skiing, where China’s Eileen Gu delivered another standout performance. Competing in the women’s freeski halfpipe final at the Livigno Snow Park, she claimed gold with a best score of 94.75. The victory made her the most decorated freestyle skier in Winter Olympic history.
Gu had already won silver medals in slopestyle and big air at these Games, and her halfpipe gold capped a remarkable campaign in the Italian Alps. She narrowly edged out teammate Li Fanghui, who took silver with a score of 93.00.
At the post-event press conference, Gu spoke about how proud she was to make history but broke down in tears toward the end, sharing that she had learned of her grandmother’s passing only after the medals ceremony. She said she had fought “every single day” during the competition, and that showcasing the best of women’s skiing when it mattered most was all she could ask for.
Curling: Sweden and Canada share podium success
Curling also provided several key storylines as more medals were decided at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. In the women’s curling event, Sweden clinched gold with a narrow 6-5 victory over Switzerland at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. Canada took the bronze medal by defeating the United States 10-7 in the third-place match.
In the men’s curling competition, Canada earned the gold medal with a 9-6 win over Great Britain in a tense final. The results highlighted Canada’s enduring strength in curling, even as the US vs Canada Olympic ice hockey final dominated attention on the ice rink.
Cross-country skiing and bobsleigh titles decided
Cross-country skiing delivered another landmark moment for Sweden. Ebba Andersson surged away from her rivals to win the 50km classic race, taking the first ever gold medal in this event on its Olympic debut. Her commanding performance added to Sweden’s growing tally at these Winter Games.
In bobsleigh, Germany continued its strong tradition in sliding sports. Johannes Lochner claimed his second bobsleigh gold of the Games by winning the Four-Man event. Meanwhile, Laura Nolte secured gold in the Two-Woman bobsleigh, further reinforcing Germany’s status as a powerhouse in the discipline.
A lighter side: Olympic athletes’ love for Italian cheese
Away from the pressure of finals and medal ceremonies, an interesting detail from behind the scenes of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics also caught attention. Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Games, revealed that athletes consumed around two wheels of Grana Padano cheese per day during the event. Over the 16 days of competition, that adds up to roughly one ton of the famous Italian cheese.
The figure shows how demanding the Winter Olympics are on athletes’ energy levels and how local cuisine becomes part of the overall Olympic experience.
Why the US vs Canada Olympic ice hockey final matters
The US vs Canada Olympic ice hockey final at Milan-Cortina 2026 will be remembered as one of the defining moments of these Winter Games. It restored the United States to the top of men’s Olympic ice hockey for the first time in nearly half a century and created a new chapter in a fierce sporting rivalry.
From Jack Hughes’ golden goal and Connor Hellebuyck’s resilience in net, to the emotional tribute to Johnny Gaudreau, the night combined sporting excellence with powerful human stories. For fans of Olympic ice hockey, this final was a reminder of why the sport continues to captivate audiences around the world.
