Hockey, played on ice using curved sticks to move a rubber puck, is one of the most exciting sports in the world. A team of six players and a goalkeeper competes against another on the opposite side of the rink to score goals in their opponents’ net. Olympic ice hockey is not as fast paced as the NHL but games still play out in three 20-minute periods with 15-minute intermissions. And just like the NHL, a regulation game cannot end in a tie. Instead, deadlocks are broken by either a five-minute sudden death overtime period or — if it’s the gold medal game — a 20-minute penalty shootout.
After winning just one of their first six men’s Olympic ice hockey tournaments since the sport made its debut in 1920, Canada finally claimed back-to-back titles at Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014. Shea Weber, Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby, Drew Doughty and the rest of Team Canada are widely considered to be the best in the game’s history.
The Miracle on Ice
1988 Calgary
In their final round-robin game, the U.S. and the Soviet Union were both tied at 2-2 heading into the third period. With just under three minutes to go, the Soviets’ Vladimir Tretiak fumbled the puck behind his own goal. It was a glimmer of hope for the Americans, who needed a goal from their captain Mike Eruzione to pull off what is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history.