Vicky Sunohara, Caroline Ouellette and Jayna Hefford celebrate a goal during the gold medal game of the 2007 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship.
photo: Matthew Manor / HHOF-IIHF Images
Of the 36 games played between Canada and the United States since 1990, Women’s Worlds and Olympics combined, 29 have been decided by either one or two goals.
Canada hammered the U.S. 8-0 in the 1992 finals, early in the rivalry, and the U.S. did the same in Burlington, Vermont on the opening night of the 2011 tournament, by a 9-2 score.
But perhaps the most truly one-sided game between the great nations was the 2007 gold medal game in which Canada won, 5-1, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. And this might well be the greatest women’s team of all time.
In many ways, this 2007 gold medal game was the Olympics finals that wasn’t. Missing Cammi Granato, the Americans couldn’t get by Sweden in the semi-finals in 2006 in Turin and had to settle for a bronze medal, while Canada won Olympic gold not just with a perfect 5-0 record but with a stunning goals difference of 46-2.
A year later, the Americans were in flux and the Canadians at their very peak. There were only three changes to Canada’s roster as new players Tessa Bonhomme, Kelly Bechard, and Delaney Collins were the only difference from 2006 to 2007.
The U.S., however, knew it was starting a new Olympic cycle and decided to make major changes, starting behind the bench. Out was Ben Smith, and in was Mark Johnson.
Johnson didn’t bring back Granato, but he did make seven changes to the roster from Turin, changes that didn’t yield results in 2007 but sure did over the succeeding years. The new charges were led by Hilary Knight and Meghan Duggan, still two cores of the team more than a decade later.
Canada’s lineup, though, was a who’s who of their greatest players, from Hayley Wickenheiser to Caroline Ouellette, Danielle Goyette, Megan Agosta, Jennifer Botterill, and goalie Kim St-Pierre.
Canada dominated the 2007 gold medal game, building a 3-0 lead through two periods and outshooting the U.S., 24-14. They made it 4-0 midway through the third and only a Krissy Wendell goal soon after spoiled St-Pierre’s shutout. Another goal made it 5-1, Canada winning gold in dominating fashion.
Canada again won all five games, this time by a slightly less impressive goal difference of 32-5, but plenty omnipotent all the same.
For many of the Canadian players, this was a last hurrah of gold. The young Americans won in 2008, 2009, and 2011, and by the time Canada won again, in 2012, only six players remained from this ’07 team.
But that 2006-07 team was unbeatable, and at the very pinnacle of their abilities under coach Melody Davidson. Although it soon gave way to an American juggernaut, it was magical while it lasted.
Click here for the overview of stories.
Canada hammered the U.S. 8-0 in the 1992 finals, early in the rivalry, and the U.S. did the same in Burlington, Vermont on the opening night of the 2011 tournament, by a 9-2 score.
But perhaps the most truly one-sided game between the great nations was the 2007 gold medal game in which Canada won, 5-1, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. And this might well be the greatest women’s team of all time.
In many ways, this 2007 gold medal game was the Olympics finals that wasn’t. Missing Cammi Granato, the Americans couldn’t get by Sweden in the semi-finals in 2006 in Turin and had to settle for a bronze medal, while Canada won Olympic gold not just with a perfect 5-0 record but with a stunning goals difference of 46-2.
A year later, the Americans were in flux and the Canadians at their very peak. There were only three changes to Canada’s roster as new players Tessa Bonhomme, Kelly Bechard, and Delaney Collins were the only difference from 2006 to 2007.
The U.S., however, knew it was starting a new Olympic cycle and decided to make major changes, starting behind the bench. Out was Ben Smith, and in was Mark Johnson.
Johnson didn’t bring back Granato, but he did make seven changes to the roster from Turin, changes that didn’t yield results in 2007 but sure did over the succeeding years. The new charges were led by Hilary Knight and Meghan Duggan, still two cores of the team more than a decade later.
Canada’s lineup, though, was a who’s who of their greatest players, from Hayley Wickenheiser to Caroline Ouellette, Danielle Goyette, Megan Agosta, Jennifer Botterill, and goalie Kim St-Pierre.
Canada dominated the 2007 gold medal game, building a 3-0 lead through two periods and outshooting the U.S., 24-14. They made it 4-0 midway through the third and only a Krissy Wendell goal soon after spoiled St-Pierre’s shutout. Another goal made it 5-1, Canada winning gold in dominating fashion.
Canada again won all five games, this time by a slightly less impressive goal difference of 32-5, but plenty omnipotent all the same.
For many of the Canadian players, this was a last hurrah of gold. The young Americans won in 2008, 2009, and 2011, and by the time Canada won again, in 2012, only six players remained from this ’07 team.
But that 2006-07 team was unbeatable, and at the very pinnacle of their abilities under coach Melody Davidson. Although it soon gave way to an American juggernaut, it was magical while it lasted.
Click here for the overview of stories.