Canada’s women’s ice hockey team celebrates winning a gold medal at the Beijing Winter Olympics. The Canadians won 3:2 (2:0.1:1.0:1) against their arch-rival USA on Thursday. After 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014, it was Canada’s fifth Olympic victory. For the USA, on the other hand, silver remains for the fourth time.
Sarah Nurse put Canada ahead in the 8th minute. Final record scorer Marie-Philip Poulin then decided the game with two goals (16./30). They were Poulin’s sixth and seventh Olympic finals goals. This makes her the first player to score at least one goal in four finals at the Olympics. The 1:3 outnumbered by Hilary Knight (37th) and the 2:3 a few seconds before the end by Amanda Kessel (60th) no longer endangered the victory of the Canadians.
It was an intense finale at Wukesong Sports Center. World champions Canada won for the 22nd time thanks to an efficient performance in the 40th meeting of the top nations in major tournaments. Women’s ice hockey became Olympic in 1998 – since then Canada has always been in the final. The USA only missed the final at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin. Finland secured bronze in Beijing by beating Switzerland 4-0.
