American women excited to face Canada for gold again
PYEONGCHANG, Korea, Republic Of (AP) — The United States will play for a gold medal in women’s hockey for the third straight Olympics.
Four-time defending champion Canada will be waiting for them.
The Americans had a 5-0 victory over Finland in the semifinals to set up the gold-medal showdown between the two premier women’s hockey powers.
The United States will be trying to win its first gold medal since 1998. Canada has won the last four gold medals.
“It’s honestly a dream come true,” U.S. forward Hilary Knight said. “This is the world’s biggest stage. This is the game that you want. This is the game we’ve been dreaming of and to have another opportunity to get back here, it’s huge.”
Dani Cameranesi scored two goals and added an assist to push the Americans to their big win over Finland. The 22-year-old Cameranesi is playing in her first Olympics.
Knight is one of six Americans who will get a third opportunity to win the gold. The others are captain Meghan Duggan, Gigi Marvin, Kacey Bellamy and twin sisters Monique Lamoureux-Morando and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson.
“We’re super excited to be in this position again,” Lamoureux-Davidson said. “We worked four years to put ourselves in position to compete for a gold medal and we’ll enjoy this for a little bit, but we know that this isn’t what we came here for. We’re ready to go to battle in a couple days.”
Finland remains winless in eight games against the United States at the Olympics. The Finns will try to win bronze for the first time since 2010 when they face the Russians, who have never won a medal in women’s hockey.
CURLING CONTROVERSY
A doping charge against curling bronze medallist Alexander Krushelnitsky could keep Russia from being reinstated before the end of the Olympics.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams confirmed the positive test and said it could have “consequences” in evaluating the behaviour of the Russian team.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport said it has “initiated a procedure involving” Krushelnitsky, who finished third in mixed doubles with his wife, Anastasia Bryzgalova.
The IOC allowed 168 athletes from Russia to compete under neutral uniforms and without the national flag.