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
