Men's Olympic Ice Hockey Winners
Ice hockey is one of the most popular sports in the world, and the Olympic games are one of the most highly regarded sporting events on the planet. When you combine the two, you get some of the most exciting, dramatic and memorable moments in sports history. In this article, we take a look at the men's Olympic ice hockey winners throughout the years.
1920, Antwerp - Canada
The first official Olympic ice hockey tournament took place in Antwerp, Belgium in 1920, and it was dominated by Canada. They won all five of their games, outscoring their opponents 110-3. It was an extremely one-sided tournament, with the Canadians clearly being the best team in the world at that time.
1932, Lake Placid - Canada
Canada won their second Olympic gold medal in 1932 at Lake Placid, New York. They won all three of their games, scoring 30 goals and only allowing four. It was another dominant performance by the Canadians, who were still the best team in the world at that time.
1948, St. Moritz - Canada
The Canadians continued their winning ways in 1948, this time in St. Moritz, Switzerland. They won all five of their games, scoring 69 goals and only allowing five. It was another dominant performance by the Canadians, who were clearly the best team in the world at that time.
1952, Oslo - Canada
Canada won their fourth gold medal in 1952 at Oslo, Norway. They won all seven of their games, outscoring their opponents 71-14. It was another dominant performance by the Canadians, who were still the best team in the world at that time.
1956, Cortina d'Ampezzo - Soviet Union
The Soviet Union won their first Olympic gold medal in 1956 at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. They won all five of their games, outscoring their opponents 28-7. The victory marked the beginning of a new era in international ice hockey, with the Soviets becoming a dominant force in the sport.
1960, Squaw Valley - United States
The United States won their first Olympic gold medal in ice hockey in 1960 at Squaw Valley, California. They won all seven of their games, outscoring their opponents 43-12. The victory was a huge upset, with the Americans defeating the heavily favored Canadians in the final.
1980, Lake Placid - United States
The United States won their second Olympic gold medal in ice hockey in 1980 at Lake Placid, New York. It is widely considered one of the greatest upsets in sports history, as the American team defeated the heavily favored Soviet Union in the "Miracle on Ice" game. The United States then went on to defeat Finland in the final, cementing their place in Olympic history.
1998, Nagano - Czech Republic
The Czech Republic won their first Olympic gold medal in 1998 at Nagano, Japan. They defeated Russia in the final, after defeating the heavily favored Canadians in the semi-finals. The victory marked the first time a country other than Canada or the Soviet Union/Russia had won an Olympic gold medal in ice hockey since 1960.
2002, Salt Lake City - Canada
Canada won their first Olympic gold medal in ice hockey in 50 years in 2002 at Salt Lake City, Utah. They defeated the United States in the final, with Joe Sakic scoring two goals in the game. The victory marked the beginning of a new era of Canadian dominance in international ice hockey.
2010, Vancouver - Canada
Canada won their second consecutive Olympic gold medal in 2010, this time on home soil in Vancouver, British Columbia. They defeated the United States in the final, with Sidney Crosby scoring the winning goal in overtime. The victory cemented Canada's place as the best ice hockey nation in the world.
2014, Sochi - Canada
Canada won their third consecutive Olympic gold medal in ice hockey in 2014 at Sochi, Russia. They defeated Sweden in the final, with Jonathan Toews and Sidney Crosby each scoring a goal. The victory solidified Canada's place as the greatest ice hockey nation in Olympic history.
Conclusion
The men's Olympic ice hockey tournament has produced some of the most memorable moments in sports history. From Canada's early dominance to the rise of the Soviet Union, and from the United States' "Miracle on Ice" victory to Canada's recent dominance, the tournament has been an integral part of ice hockey's history. With the next Olympics set to take place in Beijing, China in 2022, there's no telling what kind of drama and excitement we'll see on the ice.
