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The U.S. men’s hockey team will look to replicate what the women did against Canada on the final day of the Winter Olympics on Sunday and win a gold medal.
It’s the matchup every Olympics fan was hoping to see at the end of the Milan Cortina Games: two hockey powerhouses with a heated rivalry going head-to-head on the world’s biggest stage.
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Brady Tkachuk (7) of the United States celebrates after scoring his team’s sixth goal during a men’s ice hockey semifinal game between the United States and Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, February 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
American gold medalist Taylor Heise, responsible for the assist on Megan Keller’s winning score against Canada on Thursday, said she had no advice for the men but was confident in their ability to win the match.
“They have it,” she told PK Press Club Digital. “I got to watch them in person yesterday and they are an electric team. We all said we remember each other and I think they have some very talented players on their team and they have the right team to do it.
AMERICAN WOMEN’S HOCKEY GOLD MEDALIST TAYLOR HEISE UNVEILS WHAT IT MEANS TO PLAY FOR TEAM USA
Taylor Heise (27) of the United States joins the celebration after Abbey Murphy, third from left, scored a goal against Sweden during the second period of a women’s ice hockey semifinal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
“If you show up at the right time, and I think Quinn Hughes had the quote, it’s not the best of seven, it’s the best of seven. So it’s whoever shows up best that day. I’m excited and I think I can go to the game tomorrow. Hopefully we can see them win gold.”
Puck drop is scheduled 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 beat the Soviet Union on its way to defeating Finland to win the top prize. It is the 44th anniversary of the victory on Sunday.
The American team won the silver medal in 2010, 2002, 1952, 1932, 1924 and 1920 – each of those times losing to Canada.
Grace Zumwinkle of the United States, left, and Taylor Heise (27) celebrate after winning the women’s ice hockey gold medal game against Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, February 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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The Americans beat Slovakia in the semifinals to advance to this year’s gold medal game. Canada beat Finland.
