From time to time, TheIHLC.com will feature detailed recaps and boxscores of some of the most legendary games in international hockey history, considered to be “IHLC Classics.” Today, in honour of the Clarkson Cup, we look at the first ever Olympic Gold Medal Game in women’s hockey at the Nagano Olympics.

🇺🇸 United States 3-1 Canada 🇨🇦
Olympic Gold Medal Game
Nagano Wakasato Tamokuteki Sports Arena, Nagano 🇯🇵
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 women’s event was all the more palatable because it was virtually certain that Canada and USA were headed towards a gold medal showdown.
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