Canada’s best game of the 2026 Olympic women’s hockey tournament wasn’t enough to beat the United States for gold.
The U.S. came from behind in a game for the first time in the tournament to beat Canada 2-1 in overtime Thursday.
Defender Megan Keller scored the winner four minutes seven seconds into extra time. The U.S. won its third gold after victories in 1998 and 2018.
Canada was the underdog after seven straight losses to the U.S., including a 5-0 loss to the Americans in the preliminary round.
The archrivals clashed for Olympic women’s hockey gold a seventh time. Canada has won five gold.
It was another tight tug of war in front of a packed Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
Canada led 1-0 after two periods on a short-handed goal by Kristin O’Neill, but U.S. captain Hilary Knight scored a late third-period equalizer with goalie Aerin Frankel pulled for an extra attacker.
The open ice of three-on-three overtime favoured the U.S. speed and skill.
Keller took a stretch pass from Taylor Heise, deked Canadian defender Claire Thompson – who played with an upper body injury – and beat goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens with a backhand.
Here’s a look at the gold medal game and from watch parties across Canada.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 19, 2026.
The Canadian Press
