One last hug between the two giants of the game.
photo: © iNTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
The women’s Olympic final was yet another fantastic showdown between Canada and the US. Since women joined Olympic hockey, the two superpowers have played for gold seven times out of eight tournaments. Only in 2006 did Sweden manage to upset the US and advance to the final.
Since 2010, the Olympic final has also pitted both teams’ superstars, Marie-Philip Poulin and Hilary Knight, against each other. In Milan, they joined her Team Canada teammates Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford as the only athletes – men and women – to win five Olympic medals in hockey.
Knight has said the Milan tournament would mark the end of her Olympic career. She finishes first among American skaters – men or women – in Olympic goals (15) and points (33) in a career.
In gold medals, Poulin has the 3–2 edge over Knight. If it’s any consolation, Knight is the reigning Olympic champion.
Let’s have a look back at the five gold medal games in which Poulin and Knight have played.
2010 Vancouver
Canada 2 – USA 0
The USA shocked Canada in the inaugural tournament in Nagano 1998, but in 2010, Canada entered the tournament as gold medal winners from 2002 and 2006. In 2010, they also played on home ice in Vancouver, with all the pressure that comes with that.
Canada eked out a 2–0 win over the US, and – as The Canadian Press reported – “Marie-Philip Poulin of Beauceville, Que., the youngest player on the Canadian team at 18, scored a pair of goals in the first period, showing off her soft hands and quick release.”
Since 2010, the Olympic final has also pitted both teams’ superstars, Marie-Philip Poulin and Hilary Knight, against each other. In Milan, they joined her Team Canada teammates Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford as the only athletes – men and women – to win five Olympic medals in hockey.
Knight has said the Milan tournament would mark the end of her Olympic career. She finishes first among American skaters – men or women – in Olympic goals (15) and points (33) in a career.
In gold medals, Poulin has the 3–2 edge over Knight. If it’s any consolation, Knight is the reigning Olympic champion.
Let’s have a look back at the five gold medal games in which Poulin and Knight have played.
2010 Vancouver
Canada 2 – USA 0
The USA shocked Canada in the inaugural tournament in Nagano 1998, but in 2010, Canada entered the tournament as gold medal winners from 2002 and 2006. In 2010, they also played on home ice in Vancouver, with all the pressure that comes with that.
Canada eked out a 2–0 win over the US, and – as The Canadian Press reported – “Marie-Philip Poulin of Beauceville, Que., the youngest player on the Canadian team at 18, scored a pair of goals in the first period, showing off her soft hands and quick release.”
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION
She scored twice within three minutes in the first period, and that was enough.
2014 Sochi
Canada 3 – USA 2 (OT)
By the time the next Olympics came around, both Knight and Poulin had become stars.
“In my first one [in Vancouver], I was like a kid in a candy shop wanting to try all the flavors, but now I'm more experienced and that is a big advantage," Knight said.
In the gold medal game, the US held on to their two-goal lead with minutes to go – Knight assisted on Alex Carpenter’s 2–0 goal – but Poulin tied the game with 55 seconds remaining after an American shot hit the post of an empty Canadian net. In overtime, Poulin – still the third-youngest player on her team – scored on the power play while Knight was in the penalty box for tripping Wickenheiser, giving Canada its fourth straight Olympic gold medal.
“The only word I can really use to describe it is ‘heartbreaking’,” Knight said.
2018 PyeongChang
USA 3 – Canada 2 (SO)
It had been four long years since Sochi.
“Everything I do on a daily basis is for PyeongChang. So, it’s gold or bust in PyeongChang for Team USA,” Knight said.
It was gold.
Knight also scored Team USA’s first goal in the game, with 26 seconds remaining in the first period, by redirecting Sidney Morin’s shot on the power play as she went on to win her first Olympic gold medal.
Poulin scored Canada’s 2–1 go-ahead goal before Monique Lamoureux forced overtime, but neither Poulin nor Knight scored on their shootout attempts.
2022 Beijing
Canada 3 – USA 2
The three previous Olympic clashes between Knight and Poulin had been closely contested. One went into OT, another into a shootout, and the first one was a 2–0 game. Beijing was no exception.
“Poulin stepped up with two goals and an assist as Canada beat the U.S. 3–2 to win the 2022 Olympic women’s hockey gold medal on Thursday,” IIHF.com wrote.
"I'm so proud of this group, from players to staff," Poulin said. "We stayed united since 2018. It would have been easy to go our own way, but to be honest, we put our heads down. We went to work. And it really showed tonight."
"We call her 'Captain Clutch' for a reason," Spooner said of Poulin. "I’m happy to play with her and not against her."
2014 Sochi
Canada 3 – USA 2 (OT)
By the time the next Olympics came around, both Knight and Poulin had become stars.
“In my first one [in Vancouver], I was like a kid in a candy shop wanting to try all the flavors, but now I'm more experienced and that is a big advantage," Knight said.
In the gold medal game, the US held on to their two-goal lead with minutes to go – Knight assisted on Alex Carpenter’s 2–0 goal – but Poulin tied the game with 55 seconds remaining after an American shot hit the post of an empty Canadian net. In overtime, Poulin – still the third-youngest player on her team – scored on the power play while Knight was in the penalty box for tripping Wickenheiser, giving Canada its fourth straight Olympic gold medal.
“The only word I can really use to describe it is ‘heartbreaking’,” Knight said.
2018 PyeongChang
USA 3 – Canada 2 (SO)
It had been four long years since Sochi.
“Everything I do on a daily basis is for PyeongChang. So, it’s gold or bust in PyeongChang for Team USA,” Knight said.
It was gold.
Knight also scored Team USA’s first goal in the game, with 26 seconds remaining in the first period, by redirecting Sidney Morin’s shot on the power play as she went on to win her first Olympic gold medal.
Poulin scored Canada’s 2–1 go-ahead goal before Monique Lamoureux forced overtime, but neither Poulin nor Knight scored on their shootout attempts.
2022 Beijing
Canada 3 – USA 2
The three previous Olympic clashes between Knight and Poulin had been closely contested. One went into OT, another into a shootout, and the first one was a 2–0 game. Beijing was no exception.
“Poulin stepped up with two goals and an assist as Canada beat the U.S. 3–2 to win the 2022 Olympic women’s hockey gold medal on Thursday,” IIHF.com wrote.
"I'm so proud of this group, from players to staff," Poulin said. "We stayed united since 2018. It would have been easy to go our own way, but to be honest, we put our heads down. We went to work. And it really showed tonight."
"We call her 'Captain Clutch' for a reason," Spooner said of Poulin. "I’m happy to play with her and not against her."
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION
Knight, at 32, became the oldest U.S. women's hockey player ever at the Olympics. She scored once for the Americans, who outshot Canada 40–21. It was her US record breaking 22nd Olympic game, passing Jenny Potter and Angela Ruggiero (21 apiece).
"Obviously we came up short," said Knight, who led her team in scoring with six goals and 10 points.
2026 Milan-Cortina
USA 2 – Canada 1 (OT)
Again, it came down to one shot and one goal. Poulin had missed two games due to an injury, but she returned in style and scored once in the quarterfinal and twice in the semifinal against Switzerland to set up another Canada–US gold medal game.
This time around, even though Poulin was left off the scoresheet, Canada held on to a 1–0 lead for most of the last two periods. During the last intermission, captain Knight addressed her teammates.
“Who’s going to be the hero?” she said. “We need a hero. There’s a hero in this room.”
Late in the third period, with the US goalie on the bench, Knight – who had announced the 2026 Olympic tournament would be her last – tied the game. The goal was her 15th career goal and 33rd career point, both US Olympic records.
Megan Keller scored at 4:07 of overtime to give the US a 2–1 win and Knight her second Olympic gold.
“This is the best U.S. team I’ve ever been part of,” Knight said.
“It’s true that gold would have been the ultimate reward, but I am proud of this silver medal. That’s also the beauty of sport. You don’t win all the time; the margins between victory and defeat are thin, but in the end, what you remember is the journey you had together and the effort you put in,” Poulin said in a social media statement after the tournament.
"Obviously we came up short," said Knight, who led her team in scoring with six goals and 10 points.
2026 Milan-Cortina
USA 2 – Canada 1 (OT)
Again, it came down to one shot and one goal. Poulin had missed two games due to an injury, but she returned in style and scored once in the quarterfinal and twice in the semifinal against Switzerland to set up another Canada–US gold medal game.
This time around, even though Poulin was left off the scoresheet, Canada held on to a 1–0 lead for most of the last two periods. During the last intermission, captain Knight addressed her teammates.
“Who’s going to be the hero?” she said. “We need a hero. There’s a hero in this room.”
Late in the third period, with the US goalie on the bench, Knight – who had announced the 2026 Olympic tournament would be her last – tied the game. The goal was her 15th career goal and 33rd career point, both US Olympic records.
Megan Keller scored at 4:07 of overtime to give the US a 2–1 win and Knight her second Olympic gold.
“This is the best U.S. team I’ve ever been part of,” Knight said.
“It’s true that gold would have been the ultimate reward, but I am proud of this silver medal. That’s also the beauty of sport. You don’t win all the time; the margins between victory and defeat are thin, but in the end, what you remember is the journey you had together and the effort you put in,” Poulin said in a social media statement after the tournament.