Ice hockey first debuted at the Olympic Games at the 1920 Summer Olympics and became a permanent part of the Winter Games program in 1924. The sport has developed and evolved over the decades, with women’s hockey appearing for the first time in 1998. The 1980 Miracle on Ice victory in a medal round game against the Soviet Union reverberated around the world and shaped the sport’s narrative. The introduction of NHL players starting in 1998 significantly broadened the tournament’s appeal and helped elevate its stature.
The roar was deafening when Bill Cleary took a pass from brother Bob, darted down the right side and stuffed the puck past Soviet goalie Nikolai Puchkov with just over two minutes left in the first period of the game on February 24. It was the first goal scored by an American team in the final against the Soviets, who had swept their five division matches and outscored opponents 51-11.
In the finals, if the game is tied at the end of regulation in either the gold or bronze medal games, the teams will play a 20-minute period of 3-on-3 hockey. The first team to score wins the medal.
Canada has won the most men’s gold medals in the history of the Olympic ice hockey competition, winning six at various Games beginning with Antwerp in 1920. The country went on to win back-to-back titles in 2002 and 2014, with such stars as Shea Weber, Jonathan Toews and Sidney Crosby claiming the top spot.