An overtime thriller to wrap up the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games
Probably the most anticipated event of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games was the gold medal match in men’s hockey. Every Canadian who was a child in 2010 remembers the golden goal by Sidney Crosby and wanted a repeat this year.
Many Canadians got up at 6 a.m. on a Sunday and had their beer and pancakes ready for the Canada versus United States gold medal game. Sadly, however, we all had our hearts broken following the overtime loss.
The Canadian roster discussions
Before the start of the Olympics, Canadians were very optimistic for the tournament given the fantastic roster that Hockey Canada created. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, and Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes were just some of the superstars to crack the roster.
From young guns like Jarvis and Celebrini to older, more experienced athletes like Crosby and Brad Marchand, Canada had a well-rounded roster. Some hockey fans, however, would argue that some of the most notable Canadian players were not listed on the roster. For example Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Bedard, who plays for Regina Pat, is in his third NHL season. He has had over 60 points in his first two seasons and is on the road for over 60 points again this season. He has been labelled a phenom since the age of 14, so why this amazing player was not on the Canadian Olympic roster, is a legitimate question to ask.
On Dec. 12, 2025, Bedard lined up for a faceoff against Braeden Schenn of the St Louis Blues. When the puck was dropped, Schenn and Bedard collided causing Bedard’s shoulder to move at an awkward angle and separating.
Bedard missed 12 NHL games and lost his potential spot on the Olympic roster. Other missing players who could have been on the roster include Zach Hyman (Edmonton Oilers), Matthew Schaefer (New York Islanders), John Tavares (Toronto Maple Leafs), Mark Scheifele (Winnipeg Jets) and Morgan Geekie (Boston Bruins). In retrospect, it can be said that Canada’s monster roster might have been missing some key players.
The Golden game
The Olympic tournament play went positively for Canada as we won all the games up until the gold medal game. There were some close calls such as the quarter final against Czechia which went into overtime, but they prevailed and made it to the final nonetheless.
Although Canada outshot the U.S. 42-28 by the end of the game, it is difficult to win without controlling the puck. For much of the first period and a half, Canada struggled to get shots on goal. Fanned shots, bad turnovers and battles along the boards continued to stall the offence. In the second half of the game, Canada cleaned things up with tighter passes, cleaner rebounds and stronger offensive possession.
The U.S. also had a stacked roster for the Olympics. Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Hughes brothers of the New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild, and Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins were among the players on the ice for the U. S. Although Canada entered the final as a slight favourite, the United States faced a Canadian team that was beaten and battered.
Sidney Crosby was injured in the quarter-final game and had to sit out both the semifinal and final game. Nathan McKinnon was fighting a flu while in Italy, and Josh Morrisay was injured in the round robin and did not see the ice for most of the games.
The U.S. struck first, scoring at the six minute mark of the first period, thanks to Matt Boldy. The game sat 1-0 until nearly the end of the second period when Cale Makar scored for Canada. It was tied going into the third frame.
The game went into overtime and the hero was Jack Hughes for the U.S. Hughes, who plays for the New Jersey Devils, has 153 goals over seven NHL seasons. He scored his fourth goal of his Olympic run in the overtime period and had seven total points in the tournament.
I thought, overall the team played really well. Canada was definitely the better team; however, the score didn’t reflect that.” – Dayln Chuckry, U of R student and hockey player
A moment of solidarity
Canadians sat in disappointment as we watched our beloved athletes take the silver medal. Then, the game became bigger than just a hockey game.
In August 2024, American hockey players Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were killed by a drunk driver the night before their sister’s wedding. Johnny was playing for Columbus at the time following a trade from Calgary and his death hit the hockey lover hard. He was 31 and left his pregnant wife and two kids behind. Matthew left a wife and a son behind.
This was the first Olympics since the Gaudreau brothers’ passing and Johnny would have been on the U.S. roster. Following the medal ceremony, Auston Matthews, Matthew Tachuck, and Zach Werenski took a Gaudreau jersey and held it up while skating around the ice. It was a moving moment. When the U.S. went to take their winning team photo, Johnny’s kids joined the athletes on the ice. It was Johnny Jr.’s birthday.
The fall from grace
Then the United States’ fall from grace came within a few hours. Following the win, the U.S. national team received a call from President Donald Trump. While on the call, Trump mentioned inviting the team to the White House for a reception and went on to make a comment regarding inviting the winning women’s team as well or he would be impeached to which the team erupted in laughter.
The U.S. women’s national team has medaled in every Olympics they have been in since Women’s hockey was added to the games in 1998. The women’s team also beat Canada in the Gold medal final 2-1 this year. Sixteen of those athletes on the American roster were Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) athletes. Jack and Quinn Hughes’ mother, Ellen, was one of the team’s development coaches. Yet, when prompted, the men laughed at the more decorated program.
The people on the internet did not receive this well and the men’s hockey team was heavily criticized by the public.
Student reactions
So how are U of R students reacting to the loss, the politics, and the Olympics all together? Dayln Chuckry, a U of R student and hockey player, thinks that Canada’s team deserves praise.
“I thought, overall the team played really well. Canada was definitely the better team; however, the score didn’t reflect that. Both goalies stole the show, highlighted, obviously, by that Hellebuyck save. Although I hate every part of the USA winning that game, I must say I cracked a slight smile when they skated on the ice holding Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey.”
Brielle Armbruster, a political science student, added, “Overall, I was disappointed, but I loved seeing McDavid and Celebrini play together.”
Just like we saw on social media across the country, it was a mixed reaction amongst students. Some think team Canada should have won and others were just disappointed overall at the outcomes. Now, we look forward to a hopeful rematch and redemption in four years!
