CALGARY, Alberta – With less than 100 days until the start of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Hockey Canada has unveiled the two jerseys that Canada’s women’s, men’s and para hockey teams will wear in Milan, Italy.

The Team Canada Olympic and Paralympic hockey jersey, which include traditional red and white versions that were designed by Nike, was unveiled Thursday night during the TSN and RDS broadcast of the Rivalry Series game between Canada’s National Women’s Team and the United States in Cleveland, Ohio.

“With the Olympics and Paralympics rapidly approaching, and as fans eagerly await the start of the women’s, men’s and para hockey tournaments in Milan, we are excited to unveil the jerseys our athletes will wear as they represent all Canadians across the country and around the world on the biggest stage,” said Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada. “These Olympic and Paralympic jerseys perfectly reflect Canadian hockey and the passion Canadian fans bring when cheering on our athletes, and we look forward to seeing our teams and fans alike wear them with pride as we look to capture gold medals in Italy.”  

The jersey’s iconic Maple Leaf crest combines sublimated satin twill and silicon to create the look of an unbreakable diamond, reflecting the ability of Canadian hockey legends of the past and present to withstand incredible pressure. It also represents the commitment to excellence that all Canadians expect, unifying players and fans by honouring the legacy of the Maple Leaf and hockey’s importance throughout the country. The red jersey features a bold, multi-shade black Maple Leaf with two black stripes on the arms and across the bottom, and perforated white numbers on the back that allow the base colour of the jersey to be accented. The white jersey features a similar look, with a multi-tone red crest, two red stripes that differ in colour to match the crest and red perforated numbers on the back that give the jersey a clean and classic Canadian look.

Before Canada’s women’s, men’s and para hockey teams begin their quest for gold medals in Italy, fans can purchase their own Bauer replica jersey for as low as $149.99 (plus taxes) at shop.hockeycanada.ca starting Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT. All other retailers will have product available for sale starting Nov. 14. As part of a commitment from Hockey Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) to grow sport in Canada, a portion of the proceeds from all jersey sales will be reinvested into winter sports in the country.

“More than just uniforms, these jerseys reflect the pride, passion and history of Canada’s Olympic hockey legacy,” said David Shoemaker, chief executive officer and secretary general of the Canadian Olympic Committee. “These Games are an exciting time for hockey, marking not only the return of the NHL players, but the first Olympic Winter Games since the establishment of the PWHL. It’s truly a moment for the history books, and I for one can’t wait to cheer on the men’s and women’s teams at Milano Cortina 2026.”

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has announced the officiating roster for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Ten Hockey Canada officials—five referees and five linespersons—will take part in the tournament in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The officials are:

Referees:

• Mike Campbell (Surrey, BC/BC Hockey)
• Cianna Lieffers (Cudworth, SK/Hockey Saskatchewan)
• Elizabeth Mantha (Montréal, QC/Hockey Québec)
• Michelle McKenna (Moose Jaw, SK/Hockey Saskatchewan)
• Shauna Neary (Herring Cove, NS/Hockey Nova Scotia)

Linespersons:

• Alex Clarke (Drake, SK/Hockey Saskatchewan)
• Laura Gutauskas (Brampton, ON/OWHA)
• Justine Todd (Woodville, ON/OWHA)
• Tarrington Wyonzek (Yorkton, SK/Hockey Saskatchewan)
• Erin Zach (Elmira, ON/OWHA)

The IIHF has also selected Vanessa Stratton (Windsor, ON), women’s head coach of Hockey Canada’s Officiating Program of Excellence, to serve as an officiating coach for the women’s tournament.

“Officiating at the Olympic Games is the pinnacle of an amateur official’s career,” said Dan Hanoomansingh, officiating manager. “These officials have been working tirelessly towards this goal for the last four years, and it is a credit to their determination and skill that they have made it a reality.”

The selected officials participated in a lengthy evaluation process beginning in 2023 as part of the IIHF’s “Road to Milano.” Officials were evaluated in domestic competition, professional hockey and multiple IIHF tournaments prior to their final selection.

The officials for the men’s tournament will gather for a preparation camp in August in Buffalo, New York. The officials for the women’s tournament will attend a preparation camp in December in Europe.

The Hockey Canada Officiating Program is for anyone who is interested in officiating, from the grassroots to the international game. The 13 Members provide a path for anyone to participate in officiating, develop a love for the game and achieve their goals. For more information about the Hockey Canada Officiating Program, visit HockeyCanada.ca/Officials.

CALGARY, Alberta – As part of the road to Italy, Hockey Canada has invited 92 players from its men’s, women’s and para hockey teams to attend its National Teams Orientation Camp, set for Aug. 26-28 in Calgary. 

The National Teams Orientation Camp is a three-day, off-ice event with players and staff from all three programs, which will include presentations, team-building opportunities, team meetings and media opportunities in preparation for the upcoming season.

“We are excited to unveil the 92 athletes who will kick off the road to Italy, and to bring our men’s, women’s and para hockey teams together for three days as the first step towards our goal of winning triple gold in February,” said Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), Hockey Canada’s senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations. “While the next several months will bring intense evaluation and difficult roster decisions, we look forward to kicking off the season in Calgary and giving our athletes and staff a chance to come together and start to become one team as we set our sights on February.”

“This season will be an exciting time for Hockey Canada and for the sport as a whole, and we are excited to continue our preparation by welcoming 92 men’s, women’s and para hockey athletes to Calgary this summer,” said Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), Hockey Canada’s president and chief executive officer, who provides support to all three programs. “We certainly do not take for granted the opportunity and privilege we have to unite Canadians through our National Winter Sport, and we are confident that our national team athletes, coaches and staff will represent our country with tremendous pride on and off the ice as they deliver on our commitment to performance excellence.”

On the men’s side, 42 National Hockey League (NHL) players – including three goaltenders, 13 defencemen and 26 forwards – were selected by general manager Doug Armstrong (Sarnia, ON/St. Louis, NHL), assistant general managers Julien BriseBois (Greenfield Park, QC/Tampa Bay, NHL), Jim Nill (Hanna, AB/Dallas, NHL) and Don Sweeney (St. Stephen, NB/Boston, NHL), director of player personnel Kyle Dubas (Sault Ste. Marie, ON/Pittsburgh, NHL) and head coach Jon Cooper (Prince George, BC/Tampa Bay, NHL), with input from player relations advisor Ryan Getzlaf (Regina, SK) and Salmond.

The list includes three players who have won Olympic gold medals (Crosby, Doughty, Tavares), 12 who have won gold at the IIHF World Championship (Crosby, Ekblad, Hagel, Hill, MacKinnon, Marchand, McDavid, Montembeault, Reinhart, Scheifele, Stone, Weegar) and 13 who have won gold at the IIHF World Junior Championship (Bedard, Byfield, Crosby, Doughty, Makar, Marchand, McDavid, Morrissey, Point, Reinhart, Tavares, Theodore, Thomas). It also includes 19 Stanley Cup champions (Bennett, Binnington, Cirelli, Crosby, Doughty, Ekblad, Hill, MacKinnon, Makar, Marchand, Parayko, Point, Reinhart, Stone, Theodore, Thomas, Toews, Verhaeghe, Wilson), as well as all 24 players who were members of Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off championship-winning team.

On the women’s side, 30 players – four goaltenders, 10 defence and 16 forwards – will be a part of Canada’s National Women’s Team throughout the 2025-26 season, with players participating in training blocks and attending events during the year. The players were selected by general manager Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, QC/Toronto, PWHL), head coach Troy Ryan (Spryfield, NS/Toronto, PWHL) and Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON), senior manager of player development and scouting. Assistant coaches Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, NS/Montréal, PWHL), Caroline Ouellette (Montréal, QC/Concordia University, RSEQ) and Britni Smith (Port Perry, ON/Syracuse University, AHA), along with goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, AB/Toronto, PWHL), also provided input.

Included on the roster are 17 players who helped Canada win its fifth Olympic gold medal at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing (Ambrose, Clark, Desbiens, Fast, Fillier, Jenner, Larocque, Maltais, Maschmeyer, Nurse, Poulin, Shelton, Stacey, Spooner, Thompson, Turnbull, Zandee-Hart). It also includes 24 players who helped Canada win a silver medal at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship (Ambrose, Clark, Desbiens, Gardiner, Gascon, J. Gosling, Fast, Fillier, Jacques, Jenner, Larocque, Maltais, Nurse, O’Neill, Poulin, Primerano, Serdachny, Shelton, Spooner, Stacey, Thompson, Turnbull, Watts, Zandee-Hart).

As part of Canada’s National Para Hockey Team, 20 players – including three goaltenders, six defenceman and 11 forwards – have been selected to participate in camps and events throughout the 2025-26 season. The athletes were selected by the coaching staff, with input from Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON), director of hockey operations, and Adam Janssen (Richmond Hill, ON), manager of hockey operations.

The roster includes nine players who claimed a silver medal at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games (Armstrong, Dixon, Dunn, Henry, Hickey, Kingsmill, Lavin, McGregor, Jacobs-Webb). It also includes 16 players who helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2024 World Para Hockey Championship in Calgary (Armstrong, Boily, Burnett, Cozzolino, Dixon, Dunn, Halbert, Henry, Hickey, Jacobs-Webb, Kingsmill, Kovacevich, Lavin, Lelièvre, McGregor, Watson).

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

BEIJING, China – Hockey fans across the world can own a piece of Hockey Canada history and bid on game-worn jerseys from Canada’s women’s and men’s Olympic hockey teams.

Bidding will remain open until Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT at HockeyCanada.ca/Auction.

Proceeds from the online auction benefit the Hockey Canada Foundation and the Canadian Olympic Foundation and will be invested in programs to grow the game at the grassroots level in Canadian communities.

As Canada’s Women’s Olympic Team prepares for tonight’s gold medal game, fans can join the excitement of the Games and bid on game-worn jerseys from captain Marie-Philip Poulin, tournament scoring leader Sarah Nurse, first-time Olympian Sarah Fillier and the rest of Team Canada.

The online auction for Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team is also open, with game-worn jerseys available of captain Eric Staal, No. 1 NHL draft pick Owen Power, Kent Johnson and the other 22 members of the Canadian roster.

“All month, hockey fans from coast to coast to coast have been cheering on Canada’s men’s and women’s teams at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games as they proudly represent our country,” said Donna Iampieri, executive director of the Hockey Canada Foundation. “Now, they can own a piece of hockey history and support the development of grassroots hockey across Canada.

“Proceeds from the online auction will help establish a legacy for our Olympic hockey teams that goes well beyond the Games and inspires the next generation of hockey players to chase their Olympic dreams.”

Through the auction, hockey fans have already raised over $35,000 for grassroots hockey.

For more information on the Hockey Canada Foundation, please visit HockeyCanada.ca/Foundation.

With the drop of the puck in Beijing, another Olympic Winter Games is underway and another chapter of Team Canada hockey history is set to be written in China.

As part of Black History Month, let’s take a look back at the five Black athletes who have helped – and are helping – write that history.

DARREN LOWE

1984 – 7GP 2G 2A 4P (4th place)

The trailblazer, Lowe became Canada’s first Black Olympian at the 1984 Games in Sarajevo. The Toronto product scored twice – getting the Canadians even early in the third period of an eventual 4-2 win over Finland and counting the game-winner in an 8-1 win over Austria – and added a pair of assists, putting his name on the scoresheet in each of the first four games (all Canadian wins).

CLAUDE VILGRAIN

1988 – 6GP 0G 0A 0P (4th place)

Born in Haiti and raised in Quebec City, Vilgrain was a Team Canada staple in the mid-1980s, playing 145 games with Canada’s National Men’s Team from 1986-88. That run concluded in Calgary, where he went scoreless in six games in the home-ice Games.

JAROME IGINLA

2002 – 6GP 3G 1A 4P (gold medal)
2006 – 6GP 2G 1A 3P (7th place)
2010 – 7GP 5G 2A 7P (gold medal)

The 2021 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee was front and centre in a pair of games that will forever have a place in Olympic hockey lore. In 2002, the St. Albert, Alta., native scored twice and added an assist in a 5-2 gold medal game win over the U.S. that ended a 50-year drought for Canada. Eight years later, cries of ‘Iggy! Iggy! Iggy!’ rang in the ears of Canadian fans as Iginla set up Sidney Crosby for the Golden Goal in Vancouver.

P.K. SUBBAN

2014 – 1GP 0G 0A 0P (gold medal)

Has there ever been a better seventh defenceman? As part of a deep Canadian blue-line, Subban – the reigning Norris Trophy winner – got into just a single game in Sochi, playing 11:41 in a 6-0 prelim win over Austria.

SARAH NURSE

2018 – 5GP 1G 0A 1P (silver medal)

The first Black woman to wear red and white on the biggest stage in sports, Nurse netted just a single goal in PyeongChang, but it was a beauty in a big game – she wired home the game-winner in a 2-1 preliminary-round victory over the U.S. The Hamilton, Ont., product is back for a second Games in Beijing, eyeing a bigger role and a different finish.

CALGARY, Alta. – With just over two months until the 2022 Olympic Winter Games get underway, Hockey Canada has unveiled the three Nike jerseys that Canada’s men’s, women’s and para hockey teams will wear in Beijing, China.

The Team Canada Olympic and Paralympic hockey jersey, which comes in traditional red and white, as well as a black version, was unveiled on Tuesday night during the TSN and RDS broadcast of the Rivalry Series game between Canada’s National Women’s Team and the United States in Ottawa, Ont.

“The Olympics and Paralympics are the pinnacle of sport, and we are excited to unveil the three jerseys that our men’s, women’s and para hockey athletes will wear as they represent our country on sport’s biggest stage in Beijing,” said Tom Renney, chief executive officer of Hockey Canada. “We know how passionate Canadian hockey fans are, and we know fans from coast to coast to coast will embrace the new jerseys as they cheer on our country’s best hockey players. We look forward to wearing these spectacular jerseys on the ice in Beijing, and seeing Canadians all around the world supporting our teams in the Olympic and Paralympic jersey.”

The Team Canada Olympic and Paralympic jersey boldly positions the iconic Canadian Maple Leaf as the centre crest, with the red jersey featuring a unique and striking black Maple Leaf and black accents, while the white jersey showcases a classic red leaf and red accents throughout the jersey. The third jersey is a black-on-black design, with a black base complimented by a black Maple Leaf highlighted with a red outline. All three jerseys were built for performance and sustainability using Nike Swift technology, which enhances mobility, reduces weight and helps minimize distractions during intense competition

“There is no greater honour in sport than representing your country on the world’s biggest stage at the Olympics and Paralympics, and our men’s, women’s and para hockey team hopefuls are excited by the opportunity to wear these three jerseys that embody Canadian hockey,” said Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer of Hockey Canada. “We know our athletes, staffs and hockey fans alike will wear these jerseys with a tremendous amount of pride when our hockey teams head to Beijing represented by one leaf, as one team with one goal in mind, and that is bringing three gold medals back to Canada.”

Before Canada’s men’s, women’s and para hockey teams begin their quest for gold medals in Beijing, fans can purchase their own jersey for $180 (plus applicable taxes) by visiting shop.hockeycanada.ca. Replica Team Canada Olympic hockey jerseys are also available for purchase in-store and online at Sport Chek and other select retailers.

“Team Canada’s hockey jerseys are one of the most iconic symbols of the Olympic Winter Games,” said David Shoemaker, chief executive officer and secretary general of the Canadian Olympic Committee. “The red, white and black of the jerseys represent Canada’s rich history as the most successful country in Olympic hockey. Canada’s 22 hockey medals, including 13 gold, are a testament to the excellent work of Hockey Canada and the quality of Canada’s athletes. I can’t wait to cheer on the men’s and women’s teams at the Games.”

For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #OurGameIsBack.

2010 – CANADA 2, UNITED STATES 0
Marie-Philip Poulin and Shannon Szabados booked their places in Canadian hockey lore, combining to lead Canada to a home-ice Olympic gold with a 2-0 win over the Americans in Vancouver.

Poulin, at 18 the youngest player on the Canadian roster, scored both goals, while Szabados, who started the centralization year third on the depth chart behind decorated puck-stoppers Kim St-Pierre and Charline Labonté, posted a 28-save shutout.

"I was standing there on the blue-line after and I thought to myself, 'I can't believe I got a shutout,'" Szabados told CBC after the game. "But I would have been satisfied with a 9-8 score, as long as we won."

The win capped an impressive run through the tournament for Canada, which captured its third-consecutive Olympic gold by outscoring its opposition 48-2, including back-to-back shutouts in the medal round.

Meghan Agosta did the heavy lifting up front, earning MVP honours after a 15-point performance (including a record-setting nine goals), but it was Poulin who stole the show with 7.5 million Canadians watching.

She opened the scoring with 6:05 remaining in the first period, quickly one-timing a feed from Jennifer Botterill over the glove of U.S. goaltender Jessie Vetter, and buried a chance right off the face-off less than three minutes later to double the advantage.

That was all the offence Szabados needed, and as the seconds ticked away the celebration was on – on the bench, in Canada Hockey Place and in every corner of the country.

"I looked up in the stands and saw a sign that said ‘Proud to be Canadian’ and that's what I am today.”

OTHER GAMES

1960 – Jim Connelly scored the lone goal for Canada in a 2-1 medal-round loss to the United States. A first-period American goal ended Don Head’s shutout streak at 164:19, the fourth-longest run in Canadian Olympic history.

1994 – Finland took an early 2-0 lead, but Canada stormed back with goals from Todd Hlushko, Petr Nedved, Brad Werenka, Jean-Yves Roy and Greg Parks to earn a 5-3 semifinal win over the Finns and advance to the gold medal game for the second-consecutive Olympics.

2002 – CANADA 5, UNITED STATES 2
Joe Sakic finished an MVP performance with two goals and two assists, scoring the game-winning goal in the second period to lead Canada to a 5-2 win over the United States and a historic gold medal in Salt Lake City.

The victory ended a 50-year Olympic drought for Canada, which had not stood on top of the podium since the Edmonton Mercurys were golden at the 1952 Games in Oslo.

A showdown of the two most star-studded teams didn’t disappoint, with the Canadians nursing a one-goal lead until the final minutes in front of a capacity crowd of 8,599 at the E Center, and a Canadian-record television audience of 10.3 million (a mark that stood until the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver).

After Tony Amonte opened the scoring for the U.S. just shy of the nine-minute mark, Paul Kariya tied it on a goal best remembered for Mario Lemieux letting the Chris Pronger pass go through his legs to Kariya.

Jarome Iginla shoveled in a centering pass from Sakic to give Canada its first lead late in the first period, but Brian Rafalski got the Americans even on a power play in the second.

Sakic put Canada back up for good with just 98 seconds left in the middle frame, getting his shot through traffic and past Mike Richter for a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.

Martin Brodeur kept the U.S. off the scoresheet after that, finishing a 31-save performance, and goals from Iginla and Sakic in the last four minutes set off a coast-to-coast-to-coast party unseen for a half-decade.

Few Canadian Olympic rosters are as decorated as the 2002 edition – 12 players are members of the Hockey Hall of Fame (Belfour, Blake, Kariya, Lemieux, Lindros, MacInnis, Niedermayer, Nieuwendyk, Pronger, Sakic, Shanahan, Yzerman) with Brodeur and Iginla likely to follow in the coming years.

OTHER GAMES

1952 – Canada racked up 58 shots, the fourth-most in a game in Canadian Olympic history, in a 3-3 tie with the United States. The single point was enough for the Edmonton Mercurys to secure the gold medal, the fifth for Canada in six Olympics.

1960 – Don Head pitched a 38-save shutout, his second in as many games, and Canada got two goals from Floyd Martin and one each from Darryl Sly and George Samolenko in a 4-0 win over Czechoslovakia.

1988 – Canada couldn’t solve goaltender Sergey Mylnikov, and dropped a 5-0 decision to the Soviet Union to open the medal round in Calgary.

2010 – Ryan Getzlaf, Dan Boyle, Rick Nash and Brenden Morrow scored goals in the first period, and Canada cruised to a 7-3 quarter-final win over Russia. Boyle finished with a goal and two assists, Corey Perry scored twice and 14 players had at least a point for the Canadians, who racked up 21 shots in the first period to take control early.

2014 – CANADA 3, SWEDEN 0
Canada made it back-to-back Olympic gold medals for the first time since 1948 and 1952, completing a dominant run through the tournament by blanking the Swedes.

The Canadians were perfect in Sochi, and they did it with defence – Canada allowed just one goal in three medal round games, blanking the U.S. in the semifinals and Sweden in the final, and just three overall in six games, the best defensive performance in modern Olympic history.

“Right from goaltending all the way out, we didn’t give up a whole lot,” Canadian captain Sidney Crosby told The Canadian Press. “I think just as a group everyone was committed. It would’ve been easy to kind of feel the pressure of not scoring as much and try to force things, and that’s probably when we’d end up in big trouble. We stuck with it and knew what we had to do and knew how we had to win.”

Jonathan Toews opened the scoring for Canada in the gold medal game – just as he did four years earlier in Vancouver – and Crosby added one of his own, albeit in a far less dramatic fashion than his golden goal on home ice in 2010.

It took Canada all of 13 minutes of the first period to get the only offence it would need, with Jeff Carter finding Toews streaking to the net to redirect in the 1-0 goal.

Crosby netted his first of the tournament late in the second period, racing in on a breakaway and tucking the puck around Swedish goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, and Chris Kunitz added a little more insurance midway through the third.

Canada held the high-powered Swedes to 24 shots on goal, and only 13 in the final 40 minutes.

Carey Price completed a record-setting run in the Canadian goal, earning his second shutout of the tournament to finish with a 0.59 goals-against average, the best such mark in Canadian Olympic history.

Canada became the first gold medallist to run the table since the Soviet Union in 1984, and went the entire tournament – more than 362 minutes – without trailing in any game.

“It sounds cliché, but defence wins championships,” said Rick Nash.

OTHER GAMES

1952 – Canada scored twice in the opening two minutes and cruised to an 11-2 win over Norway. Bruce Dickson’s goal 25 seconds in and Tom Pollack’s at 1:59 are the fastest two goals from the start of the game in Canadian Olympic history.

1992 – Canada played its way into the first-ever Olympic gold medal game, but fell 3-1 to the Unified Team. Chris Lindberg scored the lone goal for the Canadians, who ended a 24-year Olympic medal drought with the silver.

1994 – Paul Kariya scored six minutes into overtime to give Canada a 3-2 quarter-final win over the Czech Republic. Brian Savage had the other two Canadian goals.

2010 – Fifteen players found their way onto the score sheet as Canada defeated Germany for the 15th straight time at the Olympics, 8-2. Jarome Iginla, who scored twice, Joe Thornton, Shea Weber, Sidney Crosby, Mike Richards, Scott Niedermeyer and Rick Nash had the Canadian goals.

2002 – CANADA 7, BELARUS 1
Steve Yzerman had a goal and two assists, Mario Lemieux added two helpers and seven different Canadians found the back of the net to lead Canada to the Olympic gold medal game with a semifinal win over Belarus.

The Europeans had earned their spot in the final four with a quarter-final victory over Sweden, considered one of the biggest upsets in international hockey history, but there would be no repeat against the Canadians.

“The night before the game, we had a team dinner and talked about (playing for gold),” says Canadian forward Ryan Smyth. “We knew we were lucky to be Olympians, but we were now one game away from getting a chance to bring back a gold medal. Obviously with our history, we knew how exciting that could be.”

Canada jumped out to an early lead when Yzerman scored at 6:05, but Belarus fought back to tie the game seven minutes later, with defenceman Ruslan Salei beating Martin Brodeur.

That would be the last puck to find its way past Brodeur, and the Canadian offence took over from there, starting with Eric Brewer’s game-winning goal at 17:25 of the opening period.

Scott Niedermayer doubled the lead early in the second period and Paul Kariya gave Canada even more breathing room before 40 minutes were complete. With the Canadians dominating Belarus, holding a 32-9 advantage in shots on goal after two, the third period was anti-climactic.

Simon Gagné, Eric Lindros and Jarome Iginla added goals in the final frame to complete the rout.

In all, seven Canadians scored goals, and 13 had at least a point – a total team effort.

“A lot of lines contributed in that game so it helped everyone settle in,” Smyth says. “Guys just seemed to find the right chemistry all through that tournament.”

OTHER GAMES

1952 – Canada continued its stifling defence, allowing Sweden just nine shots on goal – the third time in five games the Canadians kept their opponents under 10 – but escape with a narrow 3-2 victory to remain unbeaten.

1960 – Fred Etcher scored 12 seconds apart in the first period, the fastest two Olympic goals ever by a Canadian, and Jack Douglas had a hat trick to help Canada hammer Germany 12-0 in its first medal round game.

1980 – John Devaney scored for Canada, but the three Stastny brothers – Anton, Marion and Peter – combined for 11 points in Czechoslovakia’s 6-1 win in the fifth-place game in Lake Placid.

1988 – Merlin Malinowski and Serge Boisvert scored goals and Sean Burke made 28 saves in Canada’s 2-2 tie with Sweden to close out the preliminary round and leave the Canadians and Swedes tied with Finland atop Group A.

2006 – Alexander Ovechkin and Alexei Kovalev scored third-period goals, and Canada was shut out for the third time in the tournament, falling 2-0 to Russia in the quarter-finals in Torino.

2010 – Canada booked its spot in the women’s Olympic gold medal game for the fourth time in as many tries, getting a goal and an assist from Meghan Agosta, two assists from Jayna Hefford and 11 saves from Shannon Szabados to beat Finland 5-0 in the semifinals.