women's hockey Gold medal preview

Time, TV 11 a.m. thursday, Ch. 11

The history

Canada is the three-time defending gold medal winner. The U.S. won its only gold medal in 1998 in Nagano, Japan, in the debut of women's Olympic hockey. This is a rematch of the gold medal game at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Team USA has not beaten Canada on Olympic ice in 16 years.

earlier in these games

Canada scored three goals in the third period to defeat the U.S. 3-2 in the preliminary round.

Key players

Former Gopher Amanda Kessel, top, and teammate Brianna Decker are tied for second in the tournament in scoring with six points. Canada is led by veteran Hayley Wickenheiser, right, who is participating in her fifth Olympic tournament and served as Canada's flagbearer in these Games.

« They're at the top of their game, we're at the top of ours. It's definitely a hot ticket. »

Team USA's Hilary Knight

Gold medal games

1998 Nagano

USA 3, Canada 1

2002 Salt Lake

Canada 3, USA 2

2006 Torino

Canada 4, Sweden 1

2010 Vancouver

Canada 2, USA 0