Whether it’s the “Miracle on Ice” or Canada’s dominance at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games, Olympic ice hockey showcases speed and skill like no other sport. The event first made its debut as a seven-a-side tournament at the 1920 Antwerp Summer Olympics and then became a permanent feature at the 1924 Chamonix Winter Olympics, where the modern six-a-side format was introduced. Women’s ice hockey followed decades later, making its Olympic debut at the 1998 Nagano Winter Games.
In the men’s semifinal game that would become known as the Miracle on Ice, U.S. captain Mike Eruzione redirected a loose puck from his own team’s zone into the goal in the final minutes of the third period, ending the match and giving America its first gold medal since 1960. The feat is considered one of the greatest goals in the history of Olympic hockey, and Eruzione’s slap shot earned him the nickname the Miracle Man.
After a dominant performance in the preliminary round, Canada easily made it to the championship round, where they faced a Czechoslovakian squad that was missing many of its top players. The Americans had some great chances to score, including a deflection off the skate of Monique Lamoureux that nearly slipped through Canadian goaltender Shannon Szabados’ five-hole with just under 13 seconds remaining in regulation.
During the 10-minute sudden death overtime period, neither team scored, so the gold medal was decided by a modified shootout. Five players from each team ran in front of the goalie, attempting to put the puck past him. Sweden’s Peter Forsberg won the first-ever Olympic gold medal in a shootout.