On the anniversary of both the 1960 gold medal match against the Soviet Union at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid and the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’ Olympic game, the United States men’s hockey team has done it again and won the gold! Now 46 years later, the United States has won another miracle match on the ice in Italy.
In 1960, 17 American men won gold medals on the Olympic hockey team. Then in 1980, 20 men played on Team USA when the Americans won gold again. Now another 25 American men are wearing gold medals around their necks after a historic third Olympic victory for U.S. men’s ice hockey.
Here’s what to know about the historic hockey matchup between the USA and Canada for the gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
The Final Score Was 2-1 in a Game as Historic as the Rivalry Between Canada and the USA
GettyBrock Nelson #29 of Team United States celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the second period during the Men’s Preliminary Group C match between Latvia and United States on day six of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 12, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
February 22nd will forever be the day hockey history has been made on the Olympic ice, whether it’s February 22, 1960 in Lake Placid or February 22, 1980 or February 22, 2026 in Milan-Cortina. Even though the Soviet Union is no longer in existence, the United States men’s hockey team has squared off against another major opponent on the ice, the Canadians. Having fallen to the neighboring nation before, the 2026 Olympic game between the USA and Canada has made history.
Meeting on the ice in the final event of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, the United States of America and Canada came together for a collision of identity, pride, and generations of hockey tradition. From dramatic overtime goals to gold medal heartbreaks, the Olympic stage has amplified this rivalry into one of the most compelling matchups of the games.
The modern pinnacle of the USA-Canada ice hockey rivalry stems from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver when the gold medal game was played between the two teams. Team USA pushed the host nation to the brink and forced overtime, but in a round of sudden death Canadian captain Sidney Crosby scored the “Golden Goal” that saw the Americans take the silver medal 16 years ago. Now Team USA is wearing gold around their necks.
Team USA has Won a Historic 12 Gold Medals at the Winter Olympics
GettyFlagbearer Erin Jackson of Team United States walks in the athlete parade with her team during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at San Siro Stadium on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
The U.S. men’s hockey gold brings the total of gold medals won by Team USA to 33. Of those 33 medals, 12 of them are now gold. When the U.S. ski jumping team won gold in the aerials event on February 21, 2026, gold medal history was made when the United States won more gold medals at the Winter Olympic Games than ever before. Now they have surpassed their own historic medal count with another first place podium finish victory.
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina conclude with the Closing Ceremony on February 22, 2026.
Team USA Men’s Hockey Wins Historic Gold Medal Match Against Canada