Connor Hellebuyck was named best goaltender of OWG.
photo: Andre Ringuette/IIHF
Twelve teams, 30 games, NHL participation, sold-out arenas, and amazing hockey. That’s what we can take away from Milano, on the men’s side. That, and a thrilling gold-medal game decided first by goaltending and near misses, and, finally, by a golden goal. But all 12 teams can look back at the experience with pride and joy, tears of happiness, and tears of disappointment. Here are a few highlights from an amazing two weeks of the world’s best hockey.
United States
Gold medallists for the first time since 1980, the Americans, more than anything, proved resilient. Sweden tried to take them out in the quarter-finals, but the U.S. prevailed. In the ultimate game, Canada was the better team and produced many more scoring chances, but some shocking misses and some incredible goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck gave the U.S. a remarkable victory thanks to a Quinn Hughes goal early in overtime.
Canada
Silver isn’t gold, which is what they were trained to expect, but the threesome of Connor McDavid, Macklin Celebrini, and Nathan MacKinnon were hands down the three most dynamic players in the Olympics. Canada perhaps learned some hard lessons about roster building and Lady Luck around the net, but they played an entertaining and high-speed level of hockey from start to finish.
United States
Gold medallists for the first time since 1980, the Americans, more than anything, proved resilient. Sweden tried to take them out in the quarter-finals, but the U.S. prevailed. In the ultimate game, Canada was the better team and produced many more scoring chances, but some shocking misses and some incredible goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck gave the U.S. a remarkable victory thanks to a Quinn Hughes goal early in overtime.
Canada
Silver isn’t gold, which is what they were trained to expect, but the threesome of Connor McDavid, Macklin Celebrini, and Nathan MacKinnon were hands down the three most dynamic players in the Olympics. Canada perhaps learned some hard lessons about roster building and Lady Luck around the net, but they played an entertaining and high-speed level of hockey from start to finish.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION
Finland
Defending Olympic champions, the Finns knew with the NHLers on hand their task of repeating would be difficult. But they mounted a sensational comeback against the Swiss in the quarter-finals and finished with an impressive 6-2 win over the Slovaks to claim the bronze. They have now won medals since the NHL first played in the Olympics in 1998 (six in eight Games) than any other country (Canada, five).
Defending Olympic champions, the Finns knew with the NHLers on hand their task of repeating would be difficult. But they mounted a sensational comeback against the Swiss in the quarter-finals and finished with an impressive 6-2 win over the Slovaks to claim the bronze. They have now won medals since the NHL first played in the Olympics in 1998 (six in eight Games) than any other country (Canada, five).
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION
Slovakia
Juraj Slofkovsky is a big-time gamer in the Olympics. The 2022 MVP who led the Games with seven goals that year had four more in Milano and helped the team reach the bronze-medal game. Still a smaller hockey nation, the Slovaks nonetheless punch well above their weight class and delivered some impressive results, notably a 6-2 win over Germany in the quarters.
Switzerland
The Swiss had bad luck in the preliminary round, losing both Denis Malgin and Kevin Fiala to injury. Still, they nearly beat Finland in the QF and they showed why they have been to more gold-medal games in the last 12 years at the World Championship (four) than any other country except Canada (seven). Under coach Patrick Fischer, they have became a perennial medal contender.
Germany
Leon Draisaitl had some help in Tim Stutzle, JJ Peterka, and Moritz Seider, but depth is the team’s biggest challenge when the best of the best get together. Draisaitl was put in the position of trying to do too much, and as a team they scored just 14 goals in five games. Their sixth place finish was a respectable place given the level of competition in Milano.
Juraj Slofkovsky is a big-time gamer in the Olympics. The 2022 MVP who led the Games with seven goals that year had four more in Milano and helped the team reach the bronze-medal game. Still a smaller hockey nation, the Slovaks nonetheless punch well above their weight class and delivered some impressive results, notably a 6-2 win over Germany in the quarters.
Switzerland
The Swiss had bad luck in the preliminary round, losing both Denis Malgin and Kevin Fiala to injury. Still, they nearly beat Finland in the QF and they showed why they have been to more gold-medal games in the last 12 years at the World Championship (four) than any other country except Canada (seven). Under coach Patrick Fischer, they have became a perennial medal contender.
Germany
Leon Draisaitl had some help in Tim Stutzle, JJ Peterka, and Moritz Seider, but depth is the team’s biggest challenge when the best of the best get together. Draisaitl was put in the position of trying to do too much, and as a team they scored just 14 goals in five games. Their sixth place finish was a respectable place given the level of competition in Milano.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION
Sweden
A disappointing 7th-place finish was partly due to having to face the Americans in the quarters, but the team seemed out of sorts from the get-go. The goaltending wasn’t as sharp as we are used to seeing from Tre Kronor, and even though they took the U.S. to overtime they couldn’t get the goal to advance.
Czechia
The Czechs made amends for a dominant 5-0 loss to Canada in the preliminary round by almost posting a massive upset in the quarters. Almost. Canada rallied to win, 3-2, and the Czechs went home with only two wins in five games. But their goals differential was 15-19, which points to not enough scoring and not enough effective play inside their own blue line.
Denmark
Playing in their second straight Olympics, the Danes posted a big win over Latvia and lost to the Czechs by a 3-2 score. They had their moments, but with so many rosters stacked with NHL stars, it was going to be tough to make it past the Qualifying Round.
Latvia
Bronze medallists at the 2023 World Championship, the Latvians managed eight goals in five games, four of which came in their only win, 4-3 over Germany. They have a good blend of youth and experience, but the occasion was too great for a roster that couldn’t compete at the amazing speed of these games.
A disappointing 7th-place finish was partly due to having to face the Americans in the quarters, but the team seemed out of sorts from the get-go. The goaltending wasn’t as sharp as we are used to seeing from Tre Kronor, and even though they took the U.S. to overtime they couldn’t get the goal to advance.
Czechia
The Czechs made amends for a dominant 5-0 loss to Canada in the preliminary round by almost posting a massive upset in the quarters. Almost. Canada rallied to win, 3-2, and the Czechs went home with only two wins in five games. But their goals differential was 15-19, which points to not enough scoring and not enough effective play inside their own blue line.
Denmark
Playing in their second straight Olympics, the Danes posted a big win over Latvia and lost to the Czechs by a 3-2 score. They had their moments, but with so many rosters stacked with NHL stars, it was going to be tough to make it past the Qualifying Round.
Latvia
Bronze medallists at the 2023 World Championship, the Latvians managed eight goals in five games, four of which came in their only win, 4-3 over Germany. They have a good blend of youth and experience, but the occasion was too great for a roster that couldn’t compete at the amazing speed of these games.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION
France
Winless in four games, the French were out of their depths in many ways but showed character and compete from start to finish. At this level, however, their inability to score cost them, and they went home with only six goals in four games.
Italy
Three out of four games were close, but the Italians also went home empty-handed. They scored only three goals and allowed 24 in their four games, and they were here only as the host nation. Nevertheless, every game can be used as a learning occasion.
Winless in four games, the French were out of their depths in many ways but showed character and compete from start to finish. At this level, however, their inability to score cost them, and they went home with only six goals in four games.
Italy
Three out of four games were close, but the Italians also went home empty-handed. They scored only three goals and allowed 24 in their four games, and they were here only as the host nation. Nevertheless, every game can be used as a learning occasion.