USA Hockey Aiming for Gold
The Men
The United States men's ice hockey team secured its first victory against Canada at a Winter Olympics in 12 years on Saturday, conjuring comparisons to the "Miracle on Ice" team of 1980.
The 4-2 victory at Beijing's National Indoor Stadium, the USA's second of the competition after beating China earlier this week, was an unlikely result given the youthful makeup of the American roster, which includes 15 college players.
And 40 years ago, it was also a team largely comprised of college players that defeated the Soviet Union 4-3 to win a surprise gold.
"I guess it is a little similar with all these college guys," said Team USA left wing Sean Farrell. "That was a great moment in American hockey history, and we have a long way to go. But hopefully, it will be the same."
The US currently sits top of Group A on six points and faces Germany in the final group game on Sunday.
While Canada scored first in Saturday's game through Mat Robinson, the US hit back with goals from Andy Miele, Ben Meyers and Brendan Brisson. Corban Knight made it 3-2, but Kenny Agostino's goal in the third period sealed the win.
"A lot of people think about physicality and size, but you can be a physical team in a lot of different ways," said US coach David Quinn.
"We have a bunch of guys who compete, they don't back down. [Against China] we weren't intimidated at all, and we certainly weren't tonight.
"When we can combine a little bit of grit and heart, and when we have hard skill, and I thought we had hard skill tonight, we can be successful."
The US is one of four teams at the Winter Olympics to win both its opening games alongside the Russian Olympic Committee, Finland and Sweden.
The Women
For the sixth time in the seven Winter Olympics women’s hockey has been featured, the USA women’s hockey team will compete in the gold medal match after defeating Finland 4-1 in the semifinals at the 2022 Beijing Games on Monday.
It will also be the sixth time that the United States will meet Canada for the gold. The two rivals have met in each of the previous three gold-medal games at the Olympics — the US winning the most recent meeting at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, but Canada holds a 3-2 edge in their five meetings.
Hilary Knight and Cayla Barnes each recorded two points in the victory over Finland in the semifinals to pace the Americans to another comfortable victory. USA women’s hockey has won five of their six games at the Olympics while outscoring their opponents 22-3 in those victories. Their lone loss came against — you guessed it — Canada in the final game of the preliminary round.
After a scoreless first period, Barnes got the United States on the board with a power-play goal 3:39 into the second frame. A pinpoint passing move started by Knight found Hannah Brandt at the left post, who sent a cross-ice pass to a wide-open Barnes just below the right circle, who one-timed the chance home.
With 1:07 left in the second, Knight doubled the Americans’ lead with a spinning wrist shot for her fifth goal of the Olympics. Hayley Scamurra put the United States firmly in the driver’s seat 5:20 into the third period with a circus tip off a slapper from the point. While falling down, the forward managed to tip the puck out of midair and redirect it into the back of the net.
With their goalie pulled and an extra attacker on the ice, Finland pulled one back with 26 seconds left through Susanna Tapani, who scored twice against the Americans during their preliminary-round matchup. However, it was canceled out with five seconds to go when Abby Roque tallied an empty-netter. You got this girls!