Olympic Rivalry: Canada – United States in Women’s Ice Hockey

If you want to predict the poster for a final at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and be almost sure you’re not mistaken: bet on a Canada – United States duel in the women’s tournament of ice Hockey.

Hockey fans know how dominant these two nations are in the history of the sport. But for those unfamiliar with the liabilities between these two teams, find out why the two North American neighbors are almost certain to end up in the final in Beijing. next February 17th.

Sibling rivalry at the World Championships

Canada and the United States have fought for the world throne since 1990 and the organization of the first Women’s Ice Hockey World Championship.

In the history of this competition, these two countries have faced each other in the finals of all editions except one: in 2019, when the Americans were crowned by triumphing over the Finns (2-1) and the Canadians had to settle for third place.

At the start of this competition, Canada was the dominant nation with eight consecutive victories in the first eight editions between 1990 and 2004.

In recent years, the United States has managed to regain control. Team USA has won nine of the last eleven world titles and beat Canada eight times.

Nonetheless, the last World Championship saw Canada reclaim its place at the top of world women’s ice hockey. During the 2021 World Cup in Calgary, the teammates of Marie-Philip Poulin were crowned for the first time since 2012 with an overtime victory over the United States (3-2).

Twenty years of battle at the Olympic Winter Games

As at the World Championships, Canada and the United States met for most of the Olympic finals. There is only Turin 2006, when Canada beat Sweden (4-1) to win the gold medal, which the Canadians and Americans did not face in the final of the Olympic Winter Games.

Women’s ice hockey entered the Olympic program for Nagano 1998 Winter Olympics. And unsurprisingly, the first final was between Canada and the United States.

With a 3-1 victory, the American team was the first to put their name on the Olympic women’s ice hockey record. But four years later, at Salt Lake City 2002, Canada took revenge with a 3-2 victory in the final.

This Canadian success was a turning point. The Maple Leaf selection remained on eight straight losses to their American rival before this game. After this first Olympic title, she won the three that followed, including two against the United States. The only exception was in Turin 2006 when the Americans had to settle for the bronze medal.

But as with Canada ending the dominance of the Americans at the 2021 World Championships, the United States returned to the top of the podium at PyeongChang 2018. The teammates of Dani Cameranesi won in the final after an incredible series of penalties (3-2), 20 years after Nagano 1998.

In this rivalry, one question remains unanswered: in Beijing, who will win the next duel in this epic saga?

Until the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games

Ahead of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Canada has the advantage over the United States in head-to-head matches, both in the finals (28 wins to 20) and overall (86 to 67).

But the latest matches have been so close that it’s impossible to predict who will win in their Beijing 2022 showdown.

Reigning Olympic champions, the Americans can count on an incredible strike force with players like Hilary Knight, Brianna Decker, and Kendall Coyne Schofield who were already there at PyeongChang 2018.

In front of them, the Canadians are the reigning world champions. With the triple Olympic medalist Marie-Philip Poulin, the Olympic vice-champion Sarah Nurse or the double Olympic medalist Jocelyne Larocque, they have serious assets to win a fifth gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games.