๐บ๐ธ United States 3-1 Canada ๐จ๐ฆ
Olympic Gold Medal Game
Nagano Wakasato Tamokuteki Sports Arena, Nagano ๐ฏ๐ต
Tuesday, 17 February 1998
The 1998 Olympics was historic for two reasons. For the men, it was the first time full NHL participation occurred. For the women, it was the first time they were playing Olympic hockey at all. The excitement of the womenโs event was all the more palatable because it was virtually certain that Canada and USA were headed towards a Gold medal showdown.
These had been the two best countries since 1990, when the IIHF started the Womenโs World Championship, and both countries had been preparing for years for this inaugural competition. The six teams entered played a simple round robin, the top two advancing to a Gold medal game, and the third and fourth teams playing for the Bronze medal.
As expected, Canada and USA played for the Gold, but the result came, if not as a shock, then certainly as a surprise. The first period was scoreless, but early in the second the Americans took the lead thanks to Gretchen Ulion. Midway through the third, they extended the lead to 2-0 on a Shelley Looney goal, but Danielle Goyette finally beat Sarah Teuting to make it 2-1 with 4:01 left in regulation.
The Canadians poured on the pressure in the dying minutes, but the only puck to cross the goal line was fired by American Sandra Whyte into the vacant Canadian net at 19:52. The Americans won Gold, and the teary-eyed favourites from Canada had to settle for Silver after having won all four World Championship Gold medals. But for the Americans, they didnโt win the game on this day so much as three days earlier in the final game of the round robin.
In that game, Canada had built an impressive and comfortable 4-1-lead early in the third period only to see the Americans score six unanswered goals and win 7-4. Canada has never before or since given up as many goals in a period or game, but the incredible onslaught by USA gave the players confidence that they could beat Canada when the Gold medal was on the line. And thatโs just what they did.
But regardless of the final outcome โ womenโs hockey was the winner. As of 1998, it was not only endorsed by the IIHF. Womenโs hockey was now accepted by sportโs most prestigious movement.
BOXSCORE
1st Period
08:57 – ๐บ๐ธย PEN –ย Mounsey, high sticking
17:00 – ๐จ๐ฆย PEN –ย Campbell, holding
2nd Period
20:43 – ๐จ๐ฆย PEN –ย Drolet, tripping
22:38 – ๐บ๐ธย PP GOAL –ย Ulion (Whyte, Merz)
34:09 – ๐บ๐ธย PEN –ย Coyne, holding
37:22 – ๐บ๐ธย PEN –ย Movsessian, tripping
3rd Period
49:37 – ๐จ๐ฆย PEN –ย Goyette, body checking
50:57 – ๐บ๐ธย PP GOAL –ย Looney (Whyte, Ulion)
55:50 – ๐บ๐ธย PEN – Mounsey, body checking
55:59 – ๐จ๐ฆย PP GOAL – Goyette (Wickenheiser, Heaney)
59:52 – ๐บ๐ธย EN GOAL –ย Whyte
GOALTENDERS
W: ๐บ๐ธย Tueting (21-22)
L: ๐จ๐ฆย Rhรฉaume (21-23)
SHOTS ON GOAL
๐บ๐ธ 8+11+5 = 24
๐จ๐ฆ 9+4+9 = 22
ROSTERS
๐บ๐ธ Goaltenders: Sara DeCosta, Sarah Tueting. Defence: Chris Bailey (A), Colleen Coyne, Sue Merz, Tara Mounsey, Vicki Movsessian, Angela Ruggiero. Forwards: Laurie Baker, Alana Blahoski, Lisa Brown, Karyn Bye (A), Tricia Dunn, Cammi Granato (C), Katie King, Shelley Looney, A.J. Mleczko, Jenny Schmidgall, Gretchen Ulion, Sandra Whyte.
๐จ๐ฆ Goaltenders: Lesley Reddon, Manon Rhรฉaume. Defence:ย Thรฉrรจse Brisson (A), Cassie Campbell, Judy Diduck, Geraldine Heaney, Becky Kellar, Fiona Smith. Forwards: Jennifer Botterill, Nancy Drolet, Lori Dupuis, Danielle Goyette, Jayna Hefford, Kathy McCormack, Karen Nystrom, Laura Schuler, France St-Louis, Vicky Sunohara (A), Hayley Wickenheiser, Stacy Wilson (C).
๐บ๐ธ UNITED STATES (C) | vs. | CANADA ๐จ๐ฆ |
current champion (since 14 Feb 1998) |
Last Title | 14 Feb 1998 |
15 | All-Time Wins |
60 |
12 wins | Head-To-Head |
18 wins |
First IHLC Meeting (CAN vs. USA) ๐จ๐ฆ CAN 2-1 USA ๐บ๐ธ โ 21 Apr 1987 โ WWT โ North York ๐จ๐ฆ |
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Previous IHLC Meeting (CAN vs. USA) ๐บ๐ธ USA 7-4 CAN ๐จ๐ฆ โ 14 Feb 1998 โ OG โ Nagano ๐ฏ๐ต |
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Last IHLC Game ๐บ๐ธ USA 7-4 CAN ๐จ๐ฆ โ 14 Feb 1998 โ OG โ Nagano ๐ฏ๐ต |
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Next IHLC Game ๐จ๐ฆ CAN 2-1 USA ๐บ๐ธ โ 10 Dec 1998 โ TNC โ Kuortane ๐ซ๐ฎ |
Article Credit: IIHF 100 Top Stories Of The Century
Photo Credit: Gettyย –ย IIHF – HHOF – IOC