By JOHN WAWROW, AP Hockey Author
MILAN (AP) — Megan Keller backhanded in a shot 4:07 into extra time and the USA gained its third Olympic gold medal in girls’s hockey, beating Canada 2-1 on the Milan Cortina Games on Thursday night time to shut one other thrilling chapter of one among sports activities’ most heated rivalries.
American captain Hilary Knight, in her fifth and final Olympics, compelled extra time by tipping in Laila Edwards’ shot from the blue line with 2:04 remaining. The objective was the fifteenth of her Olympic profession and thirty third level to interrupt the U.S. report in each classes.
With the perimeters enjoying 3-on-3, Keller broke up the left wing and pushed previous Claire Thompson. Driving to the online, the U.S. assistant captain received off a backhander that beat Ann-Renee Desbiens over her proper pad.
“I’m misplaced for phrases,” Keller stated. “That is an unimaginable feeling. I really like these women a lot. This group deserves it. Simply the trouble and the religion that we saved by way of this four-year journey is one thing very particular.”
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Group United States gamers rejoice after beating Canada 2-1 in extra time within the girls’s ice hockey gold medal sport on the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photograph/David J. Phillip)
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Group United States gamers rejoice after beating Canada 2-1 in extra time within the girls’s ice hockey gold medal sport on the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photograph/David J. Phillip)
The U.S. beforehand gained gold on the 1998 Nagano Video games, the primary to function girls’s hockey, and in 2018 in Pyeongchang. Canada, which gained the opposite 5 gold medals, settled for its third silver.
Aerin Frankel stopped 30 photographs for the U.S.
Kristen O’Neill scored a short-handed objective for Canada and Desbiens completed with 31 saves.
This was the seventh of 12 Olympic conferences between the rivals to be determined by one objective and the third to go previous regulation. Canada overcame a late 2-1 deficit to beat the U.S. 3-2 on Marie-Philip Poulin’s extra time objective on the 2014 Sochi Video games. The U.S. gained 3-2 in 2018 when Jocelyne Lamoureux scored in a shootout.
Though the ultimate couldn’t have been nearer, the Individuals had been dominant in Milan, going 7-0 and outscoring their opponents by a mixed 33-2.
Canada pushed the U.S. to the brink simply 9 days after it was overwhelmed 5-0 by the Individuals within the preliminary spherical.
O’Neill’s objective 54 seconds into the second interval ended the Individuals’ shutout streak of 5 hours, 52 minutes and 17 seconds, relationship to the second interval of a 5-1 opening win over Czechia. The U.S. had not trailed within the match.
As followers alternated chants of “USA! and “Ca-na-da,” Canada was inside grasp of its sixth gold medal. The U.S. pulled Frankel for an additional attacker with 2:23 left, and Knight transformed 19 seconds later. Edwards slapped a low shot on the internet that Knight tipped in by way of her legs and previous Desbiens.
This was the primary Olympics for Edwards, the primary Black girl to signify the united statesin hockey.
“We knew we had it in us, and Hil got here up massive with that tying objective,” Keller stated. “I feel simply numerous perception in our group. We wished to play to win.”
For defending Olympic champion Canadians, this was thought of a final hurrah for his or her ageing core led by Marie-Philip Poulin. “Captain Clutch” and her teammates confirmed resolve by pushing the Individuals to the brink.
Canada hardly seemed overmatched within the first interval, and O’Neill opened the scoring by capping a 2-on-1 short-handed break early within the second. Canada saved urgent its assault and had a number of possibilities in extra time.
A minute earlier than Keller’s objective, Sarah Fillier moved up the precise wing solely to have her shot stopped by Frankel, with the puck touchdown within the crease.
The Individuals prolonged their profitable streak in opposition to Canada to eight. It started with two wins on the world championships in April, together with the gold medal sport. The U.S. then swept a four-game exhibition collection by a mixed margin of 26-7.
The U.S., below coach John Wroblewski, revamped a lot of its roster from the group that misplaced 3-2 to Canada on the 2022 Beijing Video games. This group featured simply 11 returning gamers and 7 who’re nonetheless in faculty.
AP Olympic protection: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
