U.S. women win gold in overtime
PLYMOUTH, Mich. An empowered U.S. women’s hockey team backed up their off-ice win before the world championship began by winning gold Friday.
Hilary Knight blocked a shot in Canada’s end and scored on an odd-man rush at 10:17 of overtime to lift the host country to a 3-2 victory and a fourth straight world championship.
The U.S. women threatened to boycott the tournament if USA Hockey didn’t increase their support, financial and otherwise, to something closer to what the men get.
Over 100 women inside and outside the national team pool joined the movement and refused USA Hockey’s invitation to be replacement players.
Winning gold was the book end to winning the showdown with their own federation.
“The negotiation process took a toll and our camp was shorter, but we knew it was going to be a bond that was unbreakable,” said Knight.
“I think years down the line we’re going to realize how we made history.”
Canada and the U.S. have clashed for gold in all 18 women’s world championships dating back to Ottawa in 1990.
The U.S. has won seven of the last eight gold medals, while Canada hasn’t finished first since 2012.
“It hurts. There’s no doubt about that,” Canadian head coach Laura Schuler said. “You never want to hear another person’s anthem.”
The American women have also run the table of titles this Olympic quadrennial since falling 3-2 in overtime to Canada in the goldmedal game of the 2014 Olympics.
Kacey Bellamy scored twice for the Americans and goaltender Nicole Hensley made 28 saves in front of a standing-room crowd at the 3,500-seat USA Hockey Arena.
Meghan Agosta and Brianne Jenner replied for Canada.
Shannon Szabados was stellar in the visitors’ net with 37 saves in her first international women’s hockey final since the 2014 Olympics.
Finland won bronze Friday with an 8-0 win over Germany.