From the very first Olympic ice hockey tournaments in 1924 through 1988, there were two dominant teams. Canada won six of those tournaments and won 23 medals, including seven golds. The Americans had the best overall record but could not match the Canadians. During those early tournaments, the rules were different: instead of a round-robin where all teams play every other team, the top four advanced to a single-elimination medal round. In the semi-final game of the Miracle on Ice, the Americans trailed 3-1 in the third period but tied it up when captain Mike Eruzione picked up a loose puck in the Soviet zone, used a defenseman as a screen and slashed a shot past goalie Vladimir Tretiak. It was the most famous goal in Olympic history. In 1999 Sports Illustrated named it the greatest sports moment of the 20th century and in 2008 ESPN viewers voted it the best highlight of all time.
In the finals, Canada beat Sweden 4-2 to win its fourth straight gold medal and the Americans won the bronze. Canada and the United States have played each other in every Olympics since.
During the Vancouver Olympics in 2010, Canada won both men’s and women’s gold medals, marking their first double-gold ever. In 2014 in Sochi, Canada won gold again in the men’s tournament with Sidney Crosby scoring the winning goal in overtime against the United States. Canada’s hockey pedigree is unmatched.
