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Canada captured a third consecutive Olympic women's ice hockey title on Thursday, defeating arch-rival United States 2-0 in an emotional championship match on home ice.
"It was special to do it at home," Olympic all-time scoring leader Hayley Wickenheiser said after her third gold medal.
"They have all been sensational. This one wasn't pretty but we gutted it out and we got the job done."
Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice in the first period and goaltender Shannon Szabados made 28 saves to bring Canada the victory and bragging rights in a border war arch-rivalry between the sport's only two women's powers.
"We played a great game and this is an incredible moment," Szabados said. "It was unbelievable. I just had to be calm and poised. I just tried to relax and have fun. You always want to be confident out there."
The Americans, two-time reigning world champions, settled for a silver medal while Finland took bronze with an earlier 3-2 overtime triumph over Sweden.
The ladies have raised the ire of the IOC though...they returned to the ice about a half-hour after the medals ceremony to have a private celebration featuring champagne, beer & cigars. From the National Post's "Vancouver Now" blog:
Check out the pics:
Congrats ladies! Now, it's time to see if the MEN can do it too!
Jeff @ NOW2K
"It was special to do it at home," Olympic all-time scoring leader Hayley Wickenheiser said after her third gold medal.
"They have all been sensational. This one wasn't pretty but we gutted it out and we got the job done."
Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice in the first period and goaltender Shannon Szabados made 28 saves to bring Canada the victory and bragging rights in a border war arch-rivalry between the sport's only two women's powers.
"We played a great game and this is an incredible moment," Szabados said. "It was unbelievable. I just had to be calm and poised. I just tried to relax and have fun. You always want to be confident out there."
The Americans, two-time reigning world champions, settled for a silver medal while Finland took bronze with an earlier 3-2 overtime triumph over Sweden.
The ladies have raised the ire of the IOC though...they returned to the ice about a half-hour after the medals ceremony to have a private celebration featuring champagne, beer & cigars. From the National Post's "Vancouver Now" blog:
The International Olympic Committee will investigate the behaviour of the Canadian women's hockey players who celebrated their gold medal at the Vancouver Games by drinking alcohol on the ice.
Several Canadian players returned to the ice surface at Canada Hockey Place roughly 30 minutes after their 2-0 win over the U.S. on Thursday night.
The players drank cans of beer and bottles of champagne, and smoked cigars with their gold medals draped around their necks.
Check out the pics:
Congrats ladies! Now, it's time to see if the MEN can do it too!
Jeff @ NOW2K
What a classless, trashy way to act! I understand they were excited to have won the gold medal, but they crossed the line and were TOO exuberant. The women’s hockey team totally embarrassed itself after playing a great game against the United States and an outstanding tournament overall.
ReplyDeleteGotta disagree with you...the only classless, trashy act was the one committed by the AP photographer who hung around after the game, waiting to take some "incriminating" photos of the ladies. This was done in an empty arena (save for this one photographer). And would we have been saying the same thing if it was the Mens team?
ReplyDelete