The Milan-Cortina Olympics are in full swing and they’re providing us with a bevy of exciting and titillating storylines that are as welcome a relief from news in the hemisphere as ever. Heck, my colleague has even authored a couple of compelling pieces already, and there’s nary a Cub nor Bull anywhere close to Northern Italy. I can’t say I blame him; so far, so good.
But we’re about the see those words collide when thanks to yesterday’s semifinal results of the women’s hockey tournament we’re gonna get yet another installment of the sport’s true heated rivalry. And our gals are entering it with more than a mere head of steam, as THE LOS ANGELES TIMES’ Kevin Baxter reported yesterday:
For the U.S. women’s hockey team, the Milan-Cortina Olympic tournament has been less a competition and more a siege.
With Monday’s 5-0 semifinal victory over Sweden, the U.S. is unbeaten in six games, has outscored its opposition 31-1 and hasn’t given up a goal since the second period of its first game, running its scoreless streak to more than 331 minutes, the longest in tournament history. “The best team in the world,” Sweden’s Hanna Olsson said. “They are really good.”
Nobody was arguing with that assessment because the Olympics have been more one-sided than an avalanche for the U.S.. Fifteen different Americans have scored, 11 have multiple goals. The U.S. has scored at least five times in each of its six games, scored at least one goal in 16 of the 18 periods it has played and has never trailed.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the card things were a bit closer than first anticipated but ultimately chalk reigned supreme, as THE SPORTING NEWS’ Jake Mozarsky shared:
Going into the semifinal game against Switzerland, Team Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin needed one goal to become the all-time leading Olympics goalscorer. With the final against Team USA – who now has five consecutive shutouts – looming, Poulin’s chances to break the record were getting shorter.
But, in Canada’s 2-1 semifinal win over the Swiss, Poulin didn’t only get her record-breaking goal, but some insurance. Playing in her fifth Winter Olympics, Poulin scored two goals in the second period and the Canadians held on to advance to their eighth consecutive gold medal game.
The historic 19th goal came just 1:49 into the middle frame, vaulting her past the legendary Hayley Wickenheiser, before she doubled down minutes later to reach the 20-goal milestone. The game was controlled by the favorites, with Canada outshooting Switzerland 46-8; but Rahel Enzler’s goal in the third cut the lead in half and put pressure on the Canadians, who were able to hold on.
With the political tensions between the U.S. and Canada again escalating thanks to some petty rants about the Gordie Howe Bridge–a span that has Americans heading SOUTH to cross the border–in the wake of last year’s 4 Nations final that resulted in three fights in nine seconds all eyes are very much on the men’s bracket. But that still has two more matches and two knockout rounds to go before we get the desired rematch. We’re already there with the women, as Mozarsky pointed out:
“Captain Clutch” and the Canadians turn their attention to a gold-medal rematch on Thursday, where they’ll look to finally crack an American defense that has been impenetrable throughout the tournament. The two teams will now play in their seventh out of eight gold medal games dating back to the sport’s debut in 1998. Canada has five golds, including the most recent in 2022, with the U.S. winning in 1998 and 2018.
And as NBC NEW YORK’s Eric Mullin underscored last week, there’s even more blood in the water between them:
The battle between the two sides for the top spot in the women’s hockey world extends beyond the Olympics, too. The U.S. and Canada are also the only teams to ever win an IIHF World Championship, and they’ve squared off in a staggering 23 of the 24 finals.
Captain Hilary Knight and Co. are coming off their first-ever sweep of Canada in the Rivalry Series, winning all four games of the 2025 edition by a combined score of 24-7. It was Team USA’s first Rivalry Series victory since 2019-20.
And considering Poulin was missing from the qualifying round showdown between these foes that resulted in the first of the U.S.’ five consecutive shutouts, the timing for her renaissance couldn’t have been more ideal.
I’m pretty sure the eyes of the majority of those on the southern side of the Gordie Howe Bridge will be tuned in on Thursday. Count me in among those on this side who will also find a way to watch.
Courage…