The men's final capped a historic double-header of North American dominance in Milan. Earlier in the week, the women's tournament delivered its own chapter in the cross-border rivalry. The United States and Canadian women met in the gold medal match for the seventh time in eight Olympic cycles.
The women's box score told an equally tight story. Canada edged Team USA 3, 2 in regulation, powered by relentless net-front presence and two third-period power-play goals. Over sixty minutes, the two sides registered 64 combined shots on goal, trading rapid counter-attacks and delivering elite penalty killing.
The split results between the men's and women's brackets left both nations sharing hockey supremacy in 2026. Canada defended its gold in the women's competition, while the United States reclaimed the top podium step in men's hockey for the first time in the 21st century.
