2002
50 YEARS IN THE MAKING
defeats
Amazingly, it had now been 50 years since Canada had last tasted Olympic gold, and 22 years since the USA performed their "Miracle on Ice". Canada had something to prove after their disapointing 4th place in the first NHL-sponsered Olympics in 1998. The USA, on the other hand, was riding high on home ice atop a wave of patriotism after the tragedy of September 11th, 2001. The stage was set for an all time classic.
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FINAL
THE E CENTER
SALT LAKE CITY, USA
CANADA 5 - USA 2
Canada breezed to the gold medal game with a 7-1 victory over the surprising Belarussians who shocked Sweden in quarter-finals with the biggest upset in the history of top level hockey. The USA won their semi-final 3-2 in a classic rematch with the Russians, 22 years to the day after their 1980 win over the Soviets in Lake Placid. The final game however would be played 50 years to the day after Canada's last Olympic gold.
Throughout the game the big Canadian fowards had their way with the smaller American defensemen, while the big Canadian defensemen kept the speedy and high-powered American forwards in check. But once again, as in 1996, USA goalie Mike Richter stood on his head, robbing the all-star Canadian snipers numerous times and keeping the States in the game.
Canada and the USA traded goals twice in the action packed game, but Canada finally solved Richter and netted 3 unanswered goals in the last half, delighting Canada's legendary Executive Director, Wayne Gretzky.
In some ways the score flattered the USA as Canada had at least 3 other almost "sure-thing" chances. But most will agree the game was a lot closer than the final score suggested. Only 6 shots separated the two teams in the end, and the winner was never clear untill late in the 3rd period.
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Final Standings
1: Canada
2: USA
3: Russia
4: Belarus
5: Sweden
6: Finland
7: Czech Rep.
8: Germany
9: Ukraine
10: Latvia
11: Switzerland
12: Austria
13: Slovakia
14: France
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Canada Roster
HEAD COACH
Pat Quinn
FORWARDS
Theoren Fleury / Simon Gagne / Jarome Iginla / Paul Kariya / Mario Lemieux / Eric Lindros / Joe Nieuwendyk / Owen Nolan / Mike Peca / Joe Sakic / Brendan Shanahan / Ryan Smyth / Steve Yzerman
DEFENSEMEN
Rob Blake / Eric Brewer / Adam Foote / Ed Jovanovski / Al MacInnis / Scott Niedermayer / Chris Pronger
GOALTENDERS
Ed Belfour / Martin Brodeur / Curtis Joseph
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