MILAN — The United States famously overcame the Soviets, but for 46 years since, Canada was the hill it couldn’t climb.
The Americans settled for silver in 2002, had their hearts broken by Sidney Crosby in 2010, then by Connor McDavid a year ago. There was the 1996 World Cup, sure, but no player who was on this roster in Milan is old enough to remember watching a competition from 30 years ago, and there were no Disney movies made about that.
This team though? They might have qualified for one on Sunday.
Team USA is atop the hockey world, taking its third ever gold medal in men’s hockey just days after doing so on the women’s side. It took a gut-wrenching, heart-pounding and forever-memorable final on Sunday that ended 2-1 in overtime over the mighty Canadians, and tears hit the floor the second the goal-horn sounded.
At 1:41 of overtime, Zach Werenski fed Jack Hughes on the break and wrote a moment that will live on in American sports lore forever.
JACK HUGHES DELIVERS AMERICA'S GOLDEN MOMENT IN OVERTIME.pic.twitter.com/4foFDOri53
Team USA poured onto the ice in hugs and tears. Matthew Tkachuk and Charlie McAvoy dove into each other’s arms, then Matthew went and found his brother. Brock Nelson, whose great-uncle and grandfather won gold in 1980 and 1960, became the third gold-medal winner in three generations of his family.
Canada sat on its bench, stoic.
Canada had dominated the run of play until its decisive moments began to play out with 6 ½ minutes left in regulation.
Sam Bennett caught Jack Hughes with a high stick and drew blood, handing the United States a four-minute power play when it desperately needed some kind of offensive momentum.
Source: Drudge Report
