Canada Outlasts U.S. Women's Hockey for 2022 Olympic Gold Medal

For the second night in a row, a United States hockey team came up short at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

After falling behind by three goals in the first 30 minutes of play, the U.S. women's team fought back with two scores of its own, but ultimately fell short, 3-2, to Canada last night in the gold-medal game in Beijing, China.

Canada regains the gold medal it surrendered to the U.S. in a shootout in South Korea four years ago, and has now won five of the seven gold medals awarded all-time in Olympic women's hockey. The Canadians had earlier defeated the Americans, 4-2, during the round-robin portion of this year’s tournament.

After its opening goal was disallowed due to an offside play, Sarah Nurse (Wisconsin) staked Canada to a 1-0 lead after tipping home a shot. Team Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin (Boston University) then scored her team’s next two goals, spanning the first and second periods, including the game-winning goal. Poulin has now recorded three game-winners among her seven goals in four Olympic gold medal outings, while Nurse led all scorers in this year's tournament with 18 points, including 13 assists.

Hilary Knight (Wisconsin) tallied a shorthanded goal late in the second stanza to get the Americans on the board. Amanda Kessel (Minnesota) then notched an extra-attacker power-play goal with just 12.5 seconds remaining in regulation, but it was as close as Team USA would get despite outshooting Canada, 16-4, over the final 20 minutes of play.

The U.S. is now 2-4 all-time in gold-medal Olympic contests against Canada, and has earned four silver medals, two gold medals, and one bronze medal (2006) in Olympic competition since women’s ice hockey became a medal sport in 1998. Canada has two silvers (1998, 2018) to go along with its five golds. 

Ann-Renee Desbiens (Wisconsin) stopped 38 shots for Canada in last night's victory, while Alex Cavallini (Wisconsin) finished with 18 stops for the Team USA. Canadian forward Brianne Jenner (Cornell) took home Olympic MVP honors after scoring a tournament-high nine goals in Beijing.

The U.S. and Canada will now look to renew their Olympic rivalry in 2026 in Italy.

U.S. Men's Hockey Ousted From 2022 Olympics

The U.S. men's hockey team lost only one game at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China. Unfortunately, that loss came in an elimination game.

Slovakia notched the tying goal in the final minute of regulation, and after a scoreless 10-minute overtime tallied the only goal of the ensuing shootout to eliminate the Americans by a 3-2 count last night. Slovakia moves on to the semifinal round, while the U.S. has still not medaled in Olympic men's hockey since 2010, when it earned silver in Vancouver.

Nick Abruzzese (Harvard) and Sam Hentges (St. Cloud State) staked Team USA to a 2-1 lead after two periods against Slovakia, but it wasn't enough as the Americans went 0-for-5 on the power play, including a two-man advantage. The U.S then went 0-for-5 in shootout attempts to seal its fate. 

Strauss Mann (Michigan) finished with 34 saves in net for the U.S., which had won all three of its games in round-robin pool play to advance to the quarterfinals.

The U.S women will play rival Canada for the gold medal on Wednesday night (11 p.m. ET, NBC TV, TSN Direct).

BU Wins 2022 Men's Beanpot

Boston University has regained the men's Beanpot Tournament title.

The No. 17 Terriers, who have won the annual Boston bragging rights tournament more than any other of the four competing schools, claimed their first crown since 2015 with last night's 1-0 win over 13th-ranked Northeastern, which was seeking its fourth straight title after a 30-year drought. The tournament was not held last year for the first time since its inception in 1952, due to COVID-19 concerns.

Dylan Peterson's goal with less than three minutes remaining in regulation on Monday at TD Garden proved to be the only score of the contest, and earned him 2022 Beanpot MVP honors. Vinny Duplessis made 19 saves for the Terriers, while TJ Semptimphelter recorded 28 stops for the Huskies and also garnered the Eberly Award for the lowest save percentage (.972) over two Beanpot games this year.

In the consolation game, Boston College remained winless in its last 12 outings this season, following a 3-3 tie with Harvard, which came back from a two-goal deficit. It was the first tie in the Beanpot's 69-year history, thanks to changes instituted in the overtime rules.

Last week, sixth-ranked Harvard won the 2002 Women's Beanpot Tournament with a 5-4 victory over Boston College at host Northeastern. 

U.S. Women to Face Canada for Gold (Again)

It will be the United States against Canada once again for Olympic women's hockey gold.

The U.S. women's team defeated Finland, 4-1, in one semifinal match on Monday. Alex Cavallini (Wisconsin) made 26 saves for the Americans, and Cayla Barnes (Boston College) and Hilary Knight (Wisconsin) each recorded a goal and an assist. 

Canada's women's team routed Switzerland, 10-3, that same day, in the other semifinal match. Sarah Nurse (Wisconsin) set up four goals for the victors, while Rebecca Johnston (Cornell) had three assists and Marie-Philip Poulin (Boston University) scored twice. 

The Americans and Canadians will now meet for the gold medal in the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, on Thursday night in Beijing, China, the sixth time in seven Olympic tournaments they will face off with gold at stake. The U.S. defeated Canada in both 1998 and 2018, while Canada upended the Americans in 2002, 2010 and 2014. Canada also beat Sweden for the gold in 2006, a year in which the U.S. took bronze.

U.S. Men's Hockey Edges Germany at Beijing OIympics

The United States men's hockey team outlasted Germany by a 3-2 count on Sunday at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China. The Americans thus finished round-robin pool play with a perfect 3-0-0-0 record, and also finished first in Group A following earlier victories over host China and rival Canada.

After spotting Germany an early one-goal lead, the Americans responded with three consecutive scores from Steve Kampfer (Michigan) in the first period, Matt Knies (Minnesota) in the second stanza, and then Nathan Smith (Minnesota State) in the final frame to offset a late German goal in regulation for the victory. Smith became the first Florida native to ever score a goal in Olympic hockey, while U.S. goaltender Drew Commesso (Boston University) made 24 saves for his second win in as many career Olympic starts.

Team USA is scheduled to meet the winner of Germany and Slovakia in the quarterfinals, beginning on Feb. 16 at Beijing's National Indoor Stadium.

U.S. Tops Canada in Olympic Men's Hockey

The United States now sits alone atop Group A play in men's ice hockey at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. The Americans defeated rival Canada by a 4-2 count on Friday night in Beijing, China.

After falling behind by a goal in the first two minutes of play, the U.S rebounded to take a 3-1 lead by early in the second period, before adding an insurance goal in the final frame. Andy Miele (Miami), Ben Meyers (Minnesota), Brendan Brisson (Michigan) and Kenny Agostino (Yale) scored for the U.S., with Miele also assisting on Agostino's goal. Strauss Mann (Michigan) made 35 saves in his Team USA debut.

Mat Robinson (Alaska Anchorage) and Corban Knight (North Dakota) scored goals for Canada, the latter shorthanded. Canada outshot the U.S. on the night, 37-27, and also won nearly 72 percent of all face-offs taken.

Team USA (2-0-0-0) will now face Germany in its final round-robin game, while Canada (1-1-0-0) will take on host China, with both contests slated for Sunday.

U.S. Women Advance, U.S. Men Win Olympic Opener

The U.S. women's ice hockey team is moving on at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. The U.S. men are just getting started in China.

The U.S. women overcame a one-goal deficit with four straight goals over the final two periods to oust the Czech Republic, 4-1, in a quarterfinal match Thursday night in Beijing. Maddie Rooney (Minnesota Duluth) needed to make just five saves for the Red, White and Blue, which got a goal and an assist apiece from Hillary Knight (Wisconsin), Kendall Coyne-Schofield (Northeastern) and Hannah Brandt (Minnesota). The semifinal opponent for the U.S. (4-1-0 overall) has yet to be determined.

The U.S. men opened its Games on Thursday morning with a 8-0 victory over host China. Sean Farrell (Harvard) led all American skaters with three goals and five points, while Drew Commesso (Boston University) made 29 saves in his Olympic debut. Team USA (1-0-0 overall) will now take on Canada tonight at 11 p.m. ET (USA Network).

Former UVM Star St. Louis Named Montreal Head Coach

Former NHL star forward Martin St. Louis (Vermont) has been named the new interim coach of the Montreal Canadiens. He succeeds former UVM teammate Dominique Ducharme, who guided the Canadiens to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final but could only coax the Habs to eight wins in the 2021-22 campaign to date.

St. Louis, 46, played 16 NHL seasons with Calgary, Tampa Bay and the New York Rangers before retiring following the 2014-15 campaign. He tallied 391 goals and 642 assists for 1,033 points in 1,134 career regular-season NHL outings, and added 42-48—90 points in 107 Stanley Cup Playoff contests. He was also a member of Tampa Bay's first Stanley Cup championship team in 2005, a five time NHL All-Star selection, and won an Olympic gold medal with Canada in 2014.

A native of Laval, Quebec, St. Louis played at UVM from 1993 to 1997, recording 90-175--265 points in 138 games overall while also leading the Catamounts to the 1996 NCAA Frozen Four in Cincinnati. He was also a three-team First Team All-America selection, and a three-time finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the nation's best player.

His previous coaching experience includes both head and assistant positions with the Mid-Fairfield (Conn.) Jr. Rangers organization. Professionally, he also served as a special teams consultant with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2018-19.

U.S. Women's Hockey Still Undefeated at 2022 Olympics

The United States women's hockey team is off to a 3-0 start at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China. Team USA just added an 8-0 win over Switzerland this weekend to earlier triumphs over the Russian Olympic Committee (5-0) and Finland (5-2).

The Americans, who have outshot their opponents so far by an incredible 180-36 margin, have been led in scoring by Hilary Knight (Wisconsin), Amanda Kessel (Minnesota) and Savannah Harmon (Clarkson), who have each tallied five points through three outings. Knight scored two goals in the shutout victory over Switzerland, as did Jesse Compher (Boston University) and Kelly Pannek (Minnesota).

Team USA will now face rival Canada, which is also 3-0, in its next contest (tonight, 11 p.m. ET, USA Network, TSN 2). It will be a rematch of the 2018 gold medal game in Pyeongchang, South Korea, which the U.S. won, 3-2, in a shootout to earn its first Olympic women's hockey title since the inaugural one was awarded in 1998 in Nagano, Japan. 

The Americans will be playing the rest of the way without one of their staples from four years ago in alternate captain Brianna Decker (Wisconsin). The 2012 winner of the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top NCAA women's hockey player has been sidelined for the rest of this year's Olympic tournament after she suffered a leg injury in the win over Finland.

ADDENDUM: Despite being outshot by almost a two-to-one-margin, Canada strung together three goals in the second period to defeat the U. S., 4-2. and finish first in Group A, while the Americans placed second. Veteran forward Brianne Jenner (Cornell) scored twice for the Canadians, who also got goals from Jamie Lee Rattray (Clarkson) and Marie-Philip Poulin (Boston University). Ann-Renee Desbiens (Wisconsin) finished with 51 saves in net for Team Canada.

Bennett Resigns as Head Coach at Union

The Rick Bennett era has ended at Union College.

The longtime Dutchmen head coach resigned on Friday, following an internal investigation into the Union men's hockey program. He was put on leave on Jan. 20 after an "allegation about his coaching style and practices that was substantiated through an investigation by the college." He compiled a 195-134-45 record in nine-plus seasons in charge of the Dutchmen, including six seasons of 20 or more wins. He also guided Union to eight ECAC Hockey regular-season or postseason titles in his tenure. 

Assistant coach John Ronan (Maine) will guide the Dutchmen for the rest of the 2021-22 campaign as interim head coach. Union fell to visiting Long Island, 4-1, tonight in Ronan's first contest at the helm, and is now 9-13-3 overall on the season.

A native of Springfield, Mass., and a 1990 graduate of Providence College where he recorded 50 goals and 134 points in 128 outings at forward, Bennett played nine years professionally in the NHL, AHL, IHL and ECHL, and actually began his coaching career as an player-assistant coach in the ECHL in 1995-96. After four seasons he returned to the college ranks at his alma mater as an assistant coach for five seasons, before moving on to Union in 2005. 

Bennett, 54, served as an assistant for two years with the Dutchmen, and then as associate coach for five more before taking the head coaching reins in 2011 after head coach Nate Leaman moved on to Providence. Bennett subsequently led Union to five NCAA tournament berths and two NCAA Frozen Fours, including Union's first national title in 2014 in Philadelphia.

In other news, Union men's hockey can now offer athletic scholarships as an NCAA Division I program at an NCAA Division III institution, as can the Rochester Institute of Technology.