I’m not sure I was more surprised by the anger Canadians had at the absolute drubbing their American counterparts delivered to the Olympic Canadian women’s hockey team than the shock some on social media seemed to express at not knowing that an outcome like we saw today was fully in prospect. The U.S. team has challenged the Canadian women over the course of the calendar year, and today’s shout-out in Milan may have been a preview of a future gold-medal awarding event. Honestly, the only surprise anyone should have had was the way Canada kept the US from raising the score. As Dennis Green said, “They are who we thought they were!”I’m not here to sing the praises of the US team, nor to sing the blues about Canada’s uninspired, error-filled play, but it’s hard not to notice how dominant Abbey Murphy is in everything she crosses the boards. Murphy has no peer in this tournament when it comes to size, speed and skill, and watching her play was reminiscent of how Hayley Wickenheiser played in her early 20s. She is a force, and stopping her will be a challenge for all teams.
That said, Canada looked outmatched in all aspects of the game. They were outdone, outdone, outdone, outdone and outdone by the Americans who played the most complete sixty minutes of hockey yet at this Olympiad. What we shouldn’t forget is that it was the same story for the previous six games as well, with Canada losing all six by a combined score of 30-11. In their last four games against each other, Canada has lost every game by three goals or more. Cue Green’s “They’re Who We Thought They Were!”
Canada selected their team based on experience, but that also comes at a price as the average age of the teams is 29.2 years old. By comparison, the much faster, much hungrier Americans are 25.8 years old. Team USA has 13 players under the age of 25, compared to the five the Canadians brought to Milano-Cortina. On February 4, head coach Troy Ryan had a meeting There is no mention of the age difference between the two countries’ grids.
“It’s a storyline that’s going to unfold now that the U.S. is a lot younger and we’re a little bit older,” Ryan said. “You won’t hear me talk about age at the Olympics. It just doesn’t matter. We have the best players that we think are available to us at the moment.”
Coach Ryan might want a Mulligan on that statement after today’s exhibition. The younger American players put on a dazzling show against the veteran Canadian defense, making it seem like they were the inexperienced players on the ice. Hannah Bilka (24) had two goals, Abbey Murphy (23) had three helpers, Caroline Harvey (23) had a goal and two assists, and both Kirsten Simms (21) and Laila Edwards (22) had goals. If you add that up, all five goals were scored by players under the age of 25.
As Dennis Green said, “They are who we thought they were!”
It will take a minor miracle, some kind of coaching renaissance and a full examination of the game before the Canadians can possibly even slow the Americans down. They have battled their way through four matches, conceding just one goal to the Czechs in the opening match they played. I’m not sure if netminder Aerin Frankel even broke a sweat in some games, including today’s game against Canada. Team USA looks like a machine right now. Hit us again with the line, Dennis: “They are who we thought they were!”
Canadian fans may rally around the fact that this was undoubtedly the worst match played at these Olympics, and that superstar Marie-Philip Poulin was sidelined. There is no doubt that Canada can and should be better, and there is still hope that Poulin will be ready for the medal round, where her participation is imperative. What we shouldn’t overlook, however, is that the Americans defeated Canada today on the backs of a handful of younger players, and that domination will likely continue until the medals are handed out.
However, that doesn’t mean they can’t be beaten. The Americans are quick to remind everyone that match in 1980 against the Soviet Union. Canada has its own history to draw from in 2002 when the Americans rode an eight-game winning streak over the Canadians and a 35-game winning streak around the world before the Canadians beat them for the gold medal. It’s not out of the question to suggest that Canada will take advantage of the opportunity in 2026, but today’s match doesn’t inspire much confidence in its outcome.
No one should be surprised that the Americans gave the Canadians a blow today. Dennis Green’s words are true: Anyone who watched the U.S. women’s team this year knew they were deep, talented and hungry. Even Troy Ryan knew Canada would have its hands full after the Rivalry Series, calling the young American players “a special group of young college players. That class is not like many others I’ve seen.” They are who we thought they were.
Now it comes down to Canada playing the way they think they can play to be successful. Assuming these two teams meet in the gold medal final, they will have to reinvent themselves through the quarterfinals and semifinals to be ready for the rematch. If that happens and Canada lays another egg against the Americans, it shouldn’t surprise anyone after today’s heavy beating because that’s exactly who we thought they were: the underdogs.
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
#ode #Dennis #Green