In a heart-wrenching conclusion to the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Canada’s quest for gold in men’s hockey fell short as they suffered a 2-1 loss to the United States during a thrilling overtime final held on February 22, 2026. The New Jersey Devils forward, Jack Hughes, clinched the victory for the U.S. just 1:41 into extra time, finding himself alone in the slot during a fast-paced 3-on-3 play, while Canada struggled to regroup after giving up an odd-man rush moments earlier.
The American team opened the scoring in the first period with a goal from Minnesota Wild's Matthew Boldy. However, Canada managed to equalize late in the second period as Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar found the back of the net. This victory signifies the United States' first Olympic gold medal in men's hockey since the memorable 1980 Lake Placid Games, marking a significant achievement for the American team.
Canada’s team faced a notable challenge in the gold medal game, missing their captain Sidney Crosby, who was sidelined due to a lower-body injury. Crosby sustained the injury during the quarterfinal match against Czechia, which forced him to miss not only the gold medal game but also the semifinal showdown against Finland, where Canada secured a 3-2 victory.
Before this final, Canada had a history of success against the United States in Olympic hockey, having previously claimed gold medals in 2002 and 2010. They also defeated the Americans in the overtime of the previous year's 4 Nations Face-Off final, solidifying their status as a formidable rival.
The disappointment of the men’s hockey team was echoed in Canada's overall performance at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, where they secured a total of 21 medals, finishing eighth overall in the medal standings. After a slow start with only eight medals and no gold by the midpoint of the competition, Canada rebounded impressively, amassing 13 medals in the latter half, including five golds. This placed them behind Norway, who led with 41 medals, the United States with 33, and host country Italy with 30.
On Day 16 of the Games, Canada was also in contention for medals in other events. In women’s halfpipe skiing, Amy Fraser narrowly missed out on a podium finish, concluding her competition in fourth place with a score of 88 points, just four-and-a-half points shy of bronze medalist Zoe Atkin from Britain. In an impressive display, Eileen Gu defended her Olympic title, achieving 94.75 points, while another Chinese athlete, Li Fanghui, secured the silver with a score of 93.
Canadian athletes also participated in the men’s four-man bobsled finals, with Taylor Austin from Lethbridge, Alberta, piloting the leading Canadian team to a 14th-place finish. In cross-country skiing, Jasmine Drolet from Rossland, B.C., emerged as the top Canadian performer in the women’s 50-kilometre classic style race, finishing in 17th place.
The closing ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics took place at the Verona Olympic Arena, a UNESCO World Heritage site and an ancient Roman amphitheatre. Athletes from over 90 countries gathered to celebrate their achievements and bid farewell to the Games. Notably, speedskater Valérie Maltais and short-track speedskater Steven Dubois were honored as Canada’s flag-bearers for the closing ceremonies.
