Yesterday, the U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team defeated Canada, 3-2, in a captivating six-round shootout, to take the gold medal at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. The victory gave the United States its second gold medal in women’s ice hockey after Team USA claimed the inaugural gold medal in the event at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. The U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team has now medaled in all six Olympic appearances to date (gold – 1998, 2018; silver – 2002, 2010, 2014 and bronze – 2006).
“I am extremely happy for our players,” said U.S. Women’s Olympic team head coach Robb Stauber. “They have worked so hard, and we have gone through a lot together. To be standing here as Olympic gold medalists is really special, and I have to say again how I am really happy for our players.”
“You cannot put into words this moment” said U.S. Women’s Olympic team captain Meghan Duggan (Danvers, Mass.). “It is the greatest moment of our lives, and greatest honor of our lives. We are so proud to represent the U.S., USA Hockey, and everyone who supported us along the way. This team is made of gold and we proved it today.”
Photo Credit: Jeff Cable/USA Hockey
The road to gold in PyeongChang began on Sunday, Feb. 11th with Team USA earning a 3-1 victory over Finland in the preliminary round. Two days later, the U.S. defeated the Olympic Athletes from Russia, 5-0, where Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson (Grand Forks, N.D.) set an Olympic record for the fastest two goals scored by a single player, scoring two goals just 6 seconds apart in the middle period. The win also solidified a bye to the semifinals as Team USA solidified a top-two spot in Group A. In its final preliminary round game against Canada, the U.S. suffered a 2-1 setback.
In the semifinal round, the U.S. squared off against Finland, where it claimed a 5-0 win behind a a two-goal performance from Dani Cameranesi (Plymouth, Minn.). With the win, the U.S. advanced to their fifth gold-medal game in Olympic history, where it would meet rival Canada.
In the gold-medal contest, Team USA got off to a strong start with a late first period goal from Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho) to take the lead. Canada responded with two goals in the first 10 minutes of the second period and was able to carry its one-goal lead into the third period. With 6:21 left in regulation Monique-Lamoureux Morando (Grand Forks, N.D.) converted on a breakaway attempt to tie the game and ultimately force overtime. A scoreless extra frame with end-to-end scoring chances resulted in an initial five-round shootout, where goals scored by Gigi Marvin (Warrod, Minn.) and Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.) were paired with three saves by Maddie Rooney (Andover, Minn.) to force an extra round. There, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davison (Grand Forks, N.D) scored and Rooney turned aside Canada's shooter to seal the gold medal, 3-2, shootout win.
As a team, the U.S. led the tournament in shots on goal with 217, and tied for second in power-play goals with 5. Lamoureux-Davidson placed second among all tournament skaters with four goals while Rooney led all tournament goaltenders with a 1.16 goals against average and saw her .945 save percentage rank second best.
Cameranesi and Lamoureux-Davidson tied to lead the U.S. squad in points with five apiece while Brianna Decker (Dousman, Wisconsin) led the team in assists with three. Kendall Coyne (Palos Heights, Ill.) recorded the most shots on goal with 21 and Lee Stecklein (Roseville, Minn.) paced all U.S. skaters in minutes played per game with 22:17.
For her performance, forward Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson was named to the Media All-Star Team. In five games, the forward collected five points (4-1) while setting an Olympic record and registering the game-winning shootout goal in the gold-medal game against Canada. To watch the full shootout, including Lamoureux-Davidson's golden shootout goal, click here.
Date | Opponent | Round | Result | Venue | Broadcast/Stream |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun., Feb 11 | Finland | Preliminary | W, 3-1 | Kwandong Hockey Centre | NBCSN nbcolympics.com |
Tues., Feb 13 | Olympic Athletes From Russia | Preliminary | W, 5-0 | Kwandong Hockey Centre | NBCSN nbcolympics.com |
Thurs., Feb. 15 | Canada | Preliminary | L, 1-2 | Kwandong Hockey Centre | NBCSN nbcolympics.com |
Mon., Feb. 19 | Finland | Semifinals | W, 5-0 | Gangneung Hockey Centre | NBCSN nbcolympics.com |
Thurs., Feb. 22 | Canada | Gold-Medal Game | W, 3-2 (SO) | Gangneung Hockey Centre | NBCSN nbcolympics.com |