U.S. women top Canada to win gold
GANGNEUNG, South Korea — Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson skated slowly back and forth toward the net, showing forehand, then leaning quickly to the left to fake a backhand that pulled Canadian goalie Shannon Szabados out of the crease.
On the biggest stage in women’s hockey, against the Americans’ greatest rival, with all of her teammates leaning eagerly over the boards while watching her every move, the three-time Olympian came back to her forehand to finish off a dazzling, triple-decoy move by sliding the puck into the net past the outstretched glove of Szabados. It was the deciding goal in the sixth round of a shootout thriller.
“I knew when that went in that Maddie was going to stop the next one,” Lamoureux-Davidson said.
That would be 20-year-old goalie Maddie Rooney, who stuffed the last two Canadian shooters to wrap up a 3-2 victory Thursday
that snapped the Americans’ 20-year gold medal drought and ended Canada’s bid for a fifth straight title in the first shootout in an Olympic women’s hockey final.
The Americans piled over the boards, throwing gloves in the air before piling on top of Rooney — 20 years after their previous gold medal in women’s hockey and 38 years to the day since the men’s famous “Miracle on Ice” victory over the Soviet team in group play in Lake Placid, N.Y.
“Joy’s the only word that comes to mind,” said Gigi Marvin, a three-time Olympian and at 30 the oldest player on the U.S. roster.
This victory capped a year that started with the Americans threatening a boycott of the world championships to secure more money and the same kind of treatment USA Hockey gives to the men’s team.
“They should make a movie on it,” forward Hilary Knight said. “We had all the drama and everything. It’s sort of a storybook ending to an incredible series of accomplishments.”
Nothing was more incredible than the move by Lamoureux-Davidson, who decided to use the decoy she nicknamed “Oops, I did it again ” — something she had practiced uncounted times in practice, skating around tires set up on open ice to mimic defenders.
“I’m just thrilled beyond words,” the beaming Lamoureux-Davidson said with a U.S. flag draped around her shoulders and gold hanging around her neck. “I’ve butchered it a thousand times, just ran into tires, tripped over tires just working on my hands. Just glad it worked out this time.”
Marvin and Amanda Kessel also scored in the shootout, another nail-biter ending four years after Canada rallied to stun the Americans in overtime during the Sochi Games final.
Knight gave the United States a 1-0 lead with 25.4 seconds left in the first period, redirecting a shot from Sidney Morin through Szabados’ pads. That lasted only two minutes into the second, when Haley Irwin tipped a midair pass from Blayre Turnbull over Rooney’s left leg for Canada. And when Morin lost the puck, Melodie Daoust grabbed it and passed to Meghan Agosta, who hit Marie-Philip Poulin for the wrister into the left side of the net at 6:55 for a 2-1 lead.
Lamoureux-Morando tied it up with a breakaway with 6:21 left in regulation. Knight also had a goal, and Rooney was spectacular, making 29 saves for the win. She stopped the last two Canadian attempts in the shootout — from Brianne Jenner and then Agosta on her second attempt.
If there was pressure, the goalie didn’t let it show. Rooney’s grin was clear to see throughout the shootout.
“Right before she came down, I just looked over at the bench and saw my teammates like, pointing at me — just one more,” Rooney said. “And to have their support made it a whole lot easier. I just reacted to her, and then everything kind of went into a blur.”
Poulin and Irwin each scored a goal for Canada. Agosta and Daoust scored in the shootout.
The Americans ended a skid of five straight losses to their rivals, including a 2-1 defeat in the tournament a week ago.
“It is everything for our country,” U.S. coach Robb Stauber said. “I am just so thankful for the outcome. It was a thrilling final. It was unreal.”