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The U.S. men’s hockey team will try to replicate what the women did against Canada on the final day of the Winter Olympics on Sunday and take home a gold medal.
It’s the match every Olympic fan was hoping to see at the end of the Cortina Games in Milan – two hockey powerhouses with a heightened rivalry going head-to-head on the biggest stage in the world.
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USA’s Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates after scoring his team’s sixth goal during a men’s ice hockey semifinal match between the United States and Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
American gold medalist Taylor Heise, who was responsible for the assist on Megan Keller’s game-winning goal against Canada on Thursday, said she had no advice for the men but had confidence in their ability to win the game.
“They have,” she told Pakinomist Digital. “I got to see them in person yesterday and they are an electric team. We all said we remind each other and I think they have such good players in their team and they have the right team to do it.
USA WOMEN’S HOCKEY GOLD MEDALIST TAYLOR HEISE OPENS UP ON WHAT IT MEANS TO PLAY FOR TEAM USA
USA’s Taylor Heise (27) joins the celebration after Abbey Murphy, third from left, scores a goal against Sweden in the second period of a women’s ice hockey semifinal match at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
“If you show up at the right moment, and I think Quinn Hughes had the quote, it’s like it’s not the best of seven, it’s the best of one. So it’s whoever shows up better on the day. I’m excited and I think I’ll be able to go to the game tomorrow. I hope we can see that we can see gold.”
The puck is set to drop at 8:10 a.m. ET.
The U.S. men’s hockey team hasn’t won a gold medal since 1980, when the “Miracle on Ice” team upset the Soviet Union en route to defeating Finland for the top prize. It is the 44th anniversary of the victory on Sunday.
Team USA took home silver in 2010, 2002, 1952, 1932, 1924 and 1920 — each of the times they lost to Canada.
USA’s Grace Zumwinkle, left, and Taylor Heise (27) celebrate after winning the women’s ice hockey gold medal against Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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The Americans defeated Slovakia in the semifinals to reach this year’s gold medal game. Canada defeated Finland.
