Team USA defeated Canada 1-0 in overtime to win the gold medal in men’s hockey at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The game, played in Italy, concluded with a score that reflected the intense rivalry between the two North American teams, a rivalry acknowledged by Canadian forward Brady Tkachuk prior to the match. “I guess there’s hatred there,” Tkachuk said.
The contest unfolded with a palpable tension, drawing a large crowd to Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, where fans gathered to support Team Canada. Doors at the arena opened at 7:00 a.m. ET, with tickets priced at $15, according to venue announcements. The arena, which also hosted a watch party for the World Series finale, became a focal point for Canadian fans eager to witness a potential gold medal victory.
The United States opened the scoring, creating a period of “nervous energy” within Scotiabank Arena, according to reports from the event. Canada responded by scoring a goal to tie the game, setting the stage for a dramatic overtime period. The U.S. Secured the win with a goal in overtime, claiming the gold medal.
Metrolinx operated a special Lakeshore West train to accommodate fans traveling to Union Station for game festivities, departing Confederation Proceed at 5:52 a.m. ET and arriving at Union Station by 7:30 a.m. ET. The service was intended to facilitate access to viewing locations, including Scotiabank Arena, for fans eager to participate in the collective experience of watching the gold medal game.
The North American rivals last faced each other in an Olympic final at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, a game Canada won in overtime thanks to a goal by then-captain Sidney Crosby. This history added another layer of significance to Sunday’s match, fueling the anticipation and intensity surrounding the contest.
Scotiabank Arena, located on Bay Street in downtown Toronto, is a multi-purpose arena and the home of the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The arena has a basketball capacity of 19,800 and a hockey capacity of 18,819. It originally opened as the Toronto Postal Delivery Building and was later known as the Air Canada Centre before becoming Scotiabank Arena in 2018.
