After 20 Long Years, USA Women’s Hockey Gets Redemption Over Canada

The United States women’s national hockey team (USWNHT) last won a gold medal in 1998 when it defeated the Canadian national team in the first year women’s hockey became an Olympic sport.

Since then, it has won three silver medals and one bronze medal, while Canada has claimed the top spot every time.

The 2018 U.S. women’s team had different plans this year, ending the 20-year gold-medal drought by defeating Canada in overtime on February 22. Here are some of the best moments from that gold-medal match:

USA’s Hilary Knight scoring the first goal of the game on a power play:

.@TeamUSA STRIKES FIRST!

A beautiful redirect by @HilaryKnight puts the @usahockey women up 1-0 in the gold medal game! #WinterOlympics https://t.co/R7Kzi4a9HS pic.twitter.com/kxkPJdlIEL

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2018

Hoda Kotb and Al Roker of NBC’s “Today” show screaming “USA!” while a Canadian angrily looked on:

Clearly, this Canadian picked the wrong section to sit in ‘TODAY’ … ?#USAvsCAN #pyeongchang2018  @hodakotb @alroker @TODAYshow pic.twitter.com/3dt0388qsO

— Michael Tobin (@jmrtobin) February 22, 2018

Jocelyne Nicole Lamoureux-Davidson’s game-winning goal during the shootout:

If you needed a better look at how DIRTY Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson’s game winning goal was ? https://t.co/wkOWa0qwZl pic.twitter.com/7GRRCOkoNk

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2018

Any one of goalkeeper Maddie Rooney’s 29 saves:

Maddie Rooney’s ‘Golden Save’ pic.twitter.com/HhDqJbJHVx

— One Fans View (@OneFanView) February 22, 2018

Then watching each one of her teammates try to hug her as a result of her incredible performance:

.@maddie_rooney35 is a @TeamUSA hero and everyone wants a hug! pic.twitter.com/OTh9RayJGm

— Olympic Hockey on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) February 22, 2018

And this edit to her Wikipedia page immediately following the win:

Someone edited Maddie Rooney’s Wikipedia page.

She’s now the United States Secretary of Defense ???#WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/wrJIfrG0CB

— SB Nation (@SBNation) February 22, 2018

Watching Canada’s Jocelyne Larocque sorely take off her silver medal as soon as it was placed around her neck:

Canada’s Jocelyne Larocque took off her silver medal immediately after receiving it. #WinterOlympics https://t.co/wS6s9ulmoA pic.twitter.com/CcjiKOd58W

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2018

The entire team singing the national anthem with gold medals around their necks:

For the first time in 20 years, @TeamUSA @usahockey‘s women hear their national anthem played with gold around their necks. pic.twitter.com/CjWqNTLq9x

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2018

And the fact that it all took place on the 38th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice” that occurred during the 1980 Olympics:

On this day in 1980, we witnessed a miracle.
Today, we witnessed redemption. pic.twitter.com/iM8AH8ttjI

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2018

Congratulations to the members of the United States women’s hockey team.