2006 – CANADA 7, ITALY 2
Canada opened defense of its Olympic gold medal with a convincing win over
host Italy. Jarome Iginla led the way with two goals, and Dany Heatley,
Martin St. Louis and Shane Doan each added a goal and an assist.
The Italian team featured nine Canadian-born players, including starting
goaltender Jason Muzzatti. A Toronto native, Muzzatti had suited up for
Canada’s National Men’s Team in the 1990s.
“All Canadian kids grow up wanting to play for Team Canada, so it was a
little odd playing against Canada,” says Muzzatti. “But my parents were
born in Italy and I always wanted to finish my career there, so it was a
great honour for me as well.”
The Italians played the Canadians tight through the first 20 minutes. The
only goal of the opening period came when Iginla finished off a passing
play from Todd Bertuzzi and Joe Sakic on the power play.
Forty-three seconds into the second period Italy tied the game on a goal
from Montreal-born Giulio Scandella.
“The place erupted,” says Muzzatti. “I remember just taking it all in. I
had a sense that it might be as good as it was going to get for us. And it
ended up being that.”
Canada fired 28 shots at Muzzatti and scored five times in the period. John
Parco, a native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., scored the second Italian goal
in the closing minutes of the frame.
Joe Thornton scored the only goal of the third period. Martin Brodeur made
18 saves in the win. Muzzatti – who now runs Just Goalies, a goaltending
camp in East Lansing, Mich. – stopped 43 shots for Italy.
Despite the loss, Muzzatti says his team felt proud. “Normally in a 7-2
game you’re not feeling great, but we arguably stood up against the
defending champs,” he says. “We were severe underdogs and we felt pretty
good about battling them and making a game of it.”
OTHER GAMES
1936 – In a match-up in which neither side took a penalty, Canada defeated
Czechoslovakia 7-0 in the final game for both teams, clinching the silver
medal for the Canadians. It marked the first time ever Canada had not won
Olympic gold.
1952 – David Miller had five goals and an assist and Billy Gibson added
four goals and two assists to lead Canada to an easy 15-1 victory over
Germany. Canada found the back of the net four times in 48 seconds late in
the first period.
1968 – Marshall Johnston, Gerry Pinder and Danny O’Shea scored as Canada
blanked Sweden 3-0 and ran its Olympic record against its Nordic opponent
to a perfect 10-0.
1984 – After winning its first four games, Canada is shut out for the first
time since 1968, falling 4-0 to Czechoslovakia. Mario Gosselin made 32
saves in the Canadian goal.
1994 – Todd Hlushko scored twice and Greg Parks picked up two assists as
Canada narrowly defeated France 3-1. Todd Warriner scored the third goal
for Canada, and Corey Hirsch faced only 10 shots in backstopping the win.
2002 – Sweden scored five unanswered goals – including four in a 10-minute
span in the second period – to beat Canada 5-2 in the opening game for both
teams. Rob Blake and Eric Brewer scored for Canada, which outshot Sweden
35-25.
2010 – Meghan Agosta scored twice and Gillian Apps, Cherie Piper and Hayley
Wickenheiser added three points each as Canada defeated Switzerland 10-1.
The Canadians outshot the Swiss 62-12; Shannon Szabados picked up the win.