Canadian women blank US 2-0 to win hockey gold
This article was published 1 year 11 months 14 days ago which may make its actuality or accuracy no longer valid. Foxrio2.com is not responsible for any misunderstanding.(AP) Canada is halfway there in its bid to win two gold medals in hockey at home. The Canadian women beat the United States 2-0 on Thursday for their third straight Olympic title. In a showdown between the sport’s two powers, Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice and Shannon Szabados made 28 saves as the Canadian women extended their Olympic winning streak to 15.
The streak dates to the 1998 Nagano Games, when the United States beat Canada for the gold medal.
Thursday’s game was played before a sea of red and white-adorned, cowbell-ringing, maple leaf flag-waving fans who packed Canadacanda Hockey Place. Also in attendance were Wayne Gretzky, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and members of the Canadian men’s team, which faces Slovakia on Friday in a semifinal.
Earlier in the day, Finland beat Sweden 3-2 in overtime to win the bronze. Finland hadn’t won a medal since taking bronze when women’s hockey debuted at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
The Finns celebrated as if they’d won gold, throwing their gear and sharing a hug. Finland President Tarja Halonen, sporting a team jersey, happily looked down from a luxury box.
Still, there’s such a drop in quality after the top two teams that there’s beenpeculation about cutting women’s hockey from the Olympics. Unlikely, says IOC president Jacques Rogge, who added that the sport will get another Winter Games or two for the rest of the world to catch up.
“Women’s hockey is a growing sport,” Rogge said. “There is no doubt that in the future women’s hockey will be a hit.”
