The United States’ 1-0 overtime victory over Switzerland brought to an end a long wait for a gold medal for the Americans, who despite sharing the biggest professional league in the game with Canada, have struggled at international level.
Hockey history is clouded by the awarding of world champion status to the winners of the Olympic competition for many years, but the U.S.’s only stand-alone victory had come in 1933 before Tage Thompson’s sudden-death winner on Sunday ended their long wait for the trophy.
“It feels awesome. I mean, it’s been so long for the U.S. It feels great putting this jersey back on, it’s been a long time for me, and to be able to come out with a gold medal, it’s pretty fantastic,” an elated Michael McCarron told Reuters.
“And in overtime fashion, there’s no better way to win a game,” the forward added.
Given that the Americans have not won Olympic gold since 1980, not one of the current team was even born the last time their nation stood on the top step of the podium, and Sunday’s winning squad was overcome with joy and relief as they celebrated their win.
“I mean, we had some jam (good play), they had some jam. There were some lulls in the game for us, and sometimes that we were able to take it over, and both goalies played really spectacular,” McCarron explained.
Fellow forward Drew O’Connor was on the bench with McCarron when the game was decided.
“Honestly, I feel like sometimes it’s tougher when you’re watching and you’re not on the ice. When you get up and go out there, it’s a little easier, you’re just kind of playing. But, yeah, there’s a lot of nerves,” he told Reuters.
Many of the American players didn’t even see the winning puck hit the net.
“I don’t know when it did! I just heard the buzzer, and I just jumped out and I thought, hopefully it went in, so I’m glad it did,” a beaming McCarron said with his historic gold medal hanging around his neck.
Sweden beats Denmark to secure bronze
Mikael Backlund and Marcus Johansson scored two goals each as Sweden beat Denmark 6-2 to take the bronze medal Sunday at the men’s hockey world championship in Stockholm.
It was the second straight third-place finish for Sweden while fourth place was the best-ever result for Denmark.
With a star-studded team of NHL players, Sweden was hoping to end a drought dating back to 2018 at a tournament jointly staged in the Swedish capital and the Danish city of Herning.
Lucas Raymond and Mika Zibanejad also scored for the hosts while Denmark got the goals from Nick Olesen and Nikolaj Ehlers.
Despite the loss, it was a tournament to remember for Denmark.
The Danes opened the competition with three straight losses and squeezed into the quarterfinals by prevailing over Germany 2-1 in a shootout in the final group stage game.
Then the team made history by reaching the semifinals for the first time by stunning a Canada team led by Sidney Crosby 2-1 in the quarterfinals.
It was Denmark’s second win over Canada after also winning 3-2 at the 2022 worlds.
Switzerland proved too strong for the Danes in the semis, routing them 7-0.
Denmark added to the successes of less-accomplished hockey nations in the 2023 edition of the tournament when Germany took silver for its first medal since 1953 and Latvia won bronze for its first top-three finish.
WATCH | Canada musters only 1 goal in quarterfinal loss to co-host Denmark:
Denmark scored 2 goals in the last 2 minutes of their quarterfinal game to defeat Canada 2-1, and eliminate them from the IIHF Hockey World Championships.
