Women's Hockey Gold Medal Winners
Women's hockey has been a part of the Winter Olympics since 1998, and since then several teams have gone on to win gold medals. These women's teams have been the epitome of excellence, displaying what teamwork, practice, and dedication can do. Many countries have celebrated their women's hockey teams and some have even made history. In this article, we will take a look at the best women's hockey teams in history and their journey to winning gold medals.
1998: United States
The first Olympic gold medal in women's hockey was won in 1998 by the United States team. They defeated Canada in the gold medal game with a score of 3-1. The United States team dominated the tournament, winning all five games and outscoring their opponents 36-8. They were led by captain Cammi Granato who scored four goals and had five assists, and goaltender Sara DeCosta who had a 0.67 goals-against average and a .962 save percentage. The United States team made history by being the first women's hockey team to win a gold medal in Olympic history.
2002: Canada
The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City saw Canada win their first gold medal in women's hockey. They defeated the United States in the gold medal game with a score of 3-2. The Canadian team was led by forward Danielle Goyette who scored three goals in the tournament, including the game-winning goal in the gold medal game. Canada outscored their opponents 23-5 in the tournament and had strong performances from goaltenders Kim St-Pierre and Sami Jo Small.
2006: Canada
Four years later, Canada continued their dominance in women's hockey by winning their second gold medal. They defeated Sweden in the gold medal game with a score of 4-1. The Canadian team was led by forward Hayley Wickenheiser who scored seven goals and had nine assists in the tournament. Goaltender Charline Labonte had a .967 save percentage and a 0.33 goals-against average. Canada outscored their opponents 46-2 in the tournament.
2010: Canada
In 2010, Canada won their third consecutive gold medal in women's hockey. They defeated the United States in the gold medal game with a score of 2-0. The Canadian team was led by forward Meghan Agosta who scored nine goals in the tournament, including one in the gold medal game. Goaltender Shannon Szabados had a .974 save percentage and a 0.50 goals-against average in the tournament. Canada outscored their opponents 46-2 in the tournament.
2014: Canada
Canada continued their reign in women's hockey by winning their fourth consecutive gold medal in 2014. They defeated the United States in the gold medal game with a score of 3-2 in overtime. The Canadian team was led by forward Marie-Philip Poulin who scored both the game-tying and game-winning goals in the gold medal game. Goaltender Shannon Szabados had a .954 save percentage in the tournament. Canada outscored their opponents 21-3 in the tournament.
2018: United States
The most recent gold medal in women's hockey was won by the United States team in 2018. They defeated Canada in the gold medal game with a score of 3-2 in a shootout. The American team was led by forward Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson who scored the game-tying goal in the third period and the game-winning goal in the shootout. Goaltender Maddie Rooney made the game-winning save in the shootout. The United States team outscored their opponents 22-4 in the tournament.
Conclusion
Women's hockey has come a long way since its inception in the Winter Olympics in 1998. Several teams have displayed their excellence in the sport and have brought pride to their respective countries. From the United States' historic win in 1998 to Canada's four consecutive gold medals and the United States' recent win in 2018, women's hockey has provided some of the greatest moments in Olympic history. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for this amazing sport.