2001-02 National Women's Team

Canada 3 - United States 2

Olympic Gold Medal Game
Thursday, February 21, 2002
Salt Lake City, Utah
E Center - 17:00 MDT

Canada's Women's Olympic hockey team were crowned Olympic champions Thursday night, when they defeated the USA 3-2 to capture the gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Canada, revenging their 1998 Olympic silver medal, opened the scoring early in the first period as Caroline Ouellette bounced on a loose puck and put it past USA goaltender Sara DeCosta. Cherie Piper assisted on Canada's opening goal, sending Canada to the dressing room with a 1-0 lead.

In the second period, Katie King tied the score early in the period after tipping in a Tara Mounsey slapshot from the point. Canada would reply shortly after when Hayley Wickenheiser jumped on a rebound from DeCosta and drilled a shot just under the crossbar to restore Canada's one goal lead. With one second left in the period, Jayna Hefford broke in all alone and put a puck past DeCosta to give Canada a 3-1 lead heading into the third period.

In the third, despite numerous power play chances for the USA, Canada remained focused and denied the USA any opportunity to come within a goal. Although, late in the period on yet another power play, USA made the score 3-2 off a shot from the point that eluded St-Pierre. With a one-goal lead, Canada closed the doors and thwarted any possible USA chances, claiming the victory.

Kim St-Pierre recorded the win for Canada, stopping 25 of 27 shots. The win was St-Pierre's fourth of the tournament and 33rd of her National Women's Team career.

Canada's Women's Olympic hockey team would like to thank everyone across Canada for their tremendous support throughout the year and more importantly, throughout the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.