MILAN, ITALY - The United States National Team defeated the Canadian National Team 2-1 in overtime in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic finals.
Rory Guilday '25 earned a gold medal as a representative for America. Guilday obtained the first medal of her career in her first appearance as an Olympian. Brianne Jenner '15 and Kristin O'Neill '20 earned silver medals as representatives for Canada. Jenner collected her second silver, and fourth medal overall. O'Neill also earned the first medal of her career in her first appearance in the Olympics.
O'Neill finished her first Olympic tournament with five points on three goals and an assist. Jenner capped her fourth Olympics with three points on a goal and two assists. Guilday saw action on the American blue-line, aiding in the United States' defensive dominance throughout the Olympic games.
Podium
GOLD: United States
(def. Canada 2-1 in overtime)
SILVER: Canada (fell to United States 2-1 in overtime)
BRONZE: Switzerland (def. Sweden 2-1 in overtime)
Olympic Finals Recap
The United States controlled pace early on in the contest, picking up where it left off in the preliminary game against the Canadians. Canada was rewarded with a pair of power-plays during the opening frame. The United States kept up it's strong penalty-kill, remaining unscathed through on the power-play during Olympic action. As the first period wound down, the Americans earned their first power-play chance of the game.
54 seconds into the second period, the Canadians decided to one up the American penalty-kill, when former Big Red skater O' Neill finished off a pass from Laura Stacey to pot a short-handed goal and put Canada ahead 1-0.
In a closely contested third period between the countries, America made a strong push to find the equalizer but the Canadians continued to respond with relentless defense. With 6:23 remaining in the third period, Canada saw it's third power-play of the game when Britta Curl was sent to the penalty box for boarding, giving the Canadians a prime opportunity to add insurance to it's lead. United States net-minder Aerin Frankel stood to task, saving a handful of dangerous shots during the Canada power-play to keep the United States within striking-distance.
With 2:23 remaining, Frankel joined the bench as the United States attempted to make a push with an extra-attacker. Hillary Knight netted the game-tying goal with 2:04 remaining in the third frame as she overtook the top spot for all-time Olympic goals. The Americans and the Canadians would go to overtime, marking the third time the countries would need extra-time in the Olympic final.
Daryl Watts had the game on her stick on a breakaway early in the overtime period, but lost control of the puck as she skated in, allowing the Americans to breath a sigh of relief. Megan Keller produced the next grade-A for the United States moments later but was stopped by Canada net-minder Ann-Renee Desbiens.
Sarah Fillier tested Frankel twice in succession during a two-on-one rush, but Frankel stood to task. Shortly following Frankel's critical saves, Keller proved to be the hero as she made no mistake on her second overtime shot and put the puck past Desbiens to crown the United States as Olympic champions.
Top Performer: Megan Keller (USA) - Scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
Winning Goaltender: Aerin Frankel (USA) - Made 30 saves for the United States.
