The streets of Milan, Italy, are covered in Olympic-themed lights and billboards and fans from many countries can be seen walking down the avenues dressed in patriotic merchandise. Milan, the host of the 2026 Winter Olympics, is taking this role in stride, successfully managing crowds and excitement surrounding the Winter Games.
The 2026 Olympics have featured many success stories, including Alysa Liu’s gold medal performance and Mikaela Shiffrin’s gold in slalom skiing, but one standout highlight was the women’s gold medal hockey game.
Each Olympic Winter Games, except for 2006, has featured a women’s gold medal hockey match between Canada and the United States and this year’s did not disappoint. Of the past Olympic gold medal match-ups, Canada has taken home five gold medals and the United States two.
On Feb. 19, American and Canadian fans poured into the PalaItalia Santa Giulia arena ready to cheer on their respective teams. People began to find their seats and talk to the people seated around them. Despite the rivalry, fans from both teams were friendly and equally excited for the game. The United States had won all of its previous tournament games, including a 5-0 victory against Canada in pool play. Despite that win, both teams played an even game until the second period, when Canada scored their first and only goal of the night while on the penalty kill.
As the third period started, U.S. fans didn’t give up hope; however, time was ticking down on the scoreboard and the United States was still down one goal. With almost two minutes left in the game, Team USA pulled their goalie out of the goal to add a sixth player to the ice, as a last-ditch effort to score the tying goal. Leila Edwards, a defenseman playing her final season for the Wisconsin Badgers and competing in her first Olympics for Team USA, took a shot that was tipped by captain and five-time Olympian Hilary Knight to score the goal that sent the game into overtime. Fans from the United States celebrated and cheered for the team’s 36-year-old captain.
In hockey, overtime is played 3-on-3 and is sudden death. The point of the 3-on-3 format is to create quick changes in possession and more scoring chances. Four minutes and seven seconds into overtime, defenseman Megan Keller scored the game-winning goal, earning the U.S. Olympic women’s hockey team their third gold medal in seven gold medal games.
In addition to earning a gold medal, Team USA’s Caroline Harvey was awarded Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament and captain Hilary Knight scored the final goal of her Olympic career, breaking the Olympic record for most goals scored by a single player.
