MILAN, Italy — The women’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics ended nine days early.
Well, for all intents and purposes it did.
The gold medals will end up around the necks of the players on the US women’s hockey team, unless something catastrophic happens. That became clear when the Americans throttled Canada, 5-0, Tuesday, Feb. 10 in the final preliminary game.
Oh, Canada. That was terrible.
The fifth US goal prompted Canada to pulls its starting goaltender. There was plenty of deserving room on the bench.
The Americans and Canadiens entered the tournament regarded as the top two teams. But the Americans looked like the best team on ice at the Milano Cortina Winter Games. Next, Team USA (4-0) will play Italy (2-0) Friday, Feb. 13.
“I think if we keep playing like we’re playing and focus on a team effort for a full 60 minutes, it’s really hard to play against us,’ US goaltender Aerin Frankel said.
In four games, the US has outscored its opponents 20-1. Twelve different players have scored for Team USA. But the victory against Canada demonstrated even more.
There was pushing.
There was shoving.
There was jostling.
There was checking.
The Americans got the best of it all, beating Canada on the scoreboard and in the game measured by physicality.
Canada’s captain, Marie-Philip Poulin, was out with an injury. But one player, no matter how talented, is not enough to topple the Americans.
In the third period, Canada did play well in spurts. But no team is going to beat the Americans by just playing well in spurts. Not when the Americans’ offense is sizzling, its defense is stifling and Frankel is in goal. She saved everything, except for Canada forward Julie Gosling from delusion.
Talking about a potential rematch with the US team, possibly in the gold medal game Feb. 19, Gosling said, “If we bring our game and our confidence the way we know we can play, then I think we have a great shot against them.’
The best shot Canada has at this point is for silver.
Those goal medals will be headed back to the United States.