Yahoo Sports USA vs. Canada women’s hockey gold medal showdown
1/20Brianne Jenner of Canada (19) celebrates her goal against the United States with her teammates Haley Irwin (21) and Catherine Ward (18) during the third period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Brianne Jenner of Canada (19) celebrates her goal against the United States with her teammates Haley Irwin (21) and Catherine Ward (18) during the third period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)![Meghan Duggan of the United States (10) reacts to her goal against Canada as Jocelyne Lamoureux of the United States (17) skates in to congratulate her during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)]()
2/20Meghan Duggan of the United States (10) reacts to her goal against Canada as Jocelyne Lamoureux of the United States (17) skates in to congratulate her during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Meghan Duggan of the United States (10) reacts to her goal against Canada as Jocelyne Lamoureux of the United States (17) skates in to congratulate her during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)![A shot by Meghan Duggan of the United States (not shown) gets past Canada goalie Shannaon Szabados for a goal as Canada's Tara Watchorn ties up Julie Chu of the United States during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)]()
3/20A shot by Meghan Duggan of the United States (not shown) gets past Canada goalie Shannaon Szabados for a goal as Canada's Tara Watchorn ties up Julie Chu of the United States during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)
A shot by Meghan Duggan of the United States (not shown) gets past Canada goalie Shannaon Szabados for a goal as Canada's Tara Watchorn ties up Julie Chu of the United States during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)
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![Goalkeeper Shannon Szabados of Canada (1) blocks a shot by Jocelyne Lamoureux of the United States (17) during the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )]()
4/20Goalkeeper Shannon Szabados of Canada (1) blocks a shot by Jocelyne Lamoureux of the United States (17) during the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )
Goalkeeper Shannon Szabados of Canada (1) blocks a shot by Jocelyne Lamoureux of the United States (17) during the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )![Goalkeeper Shannon Szabados of Canada (1) blocks a shot by Jocelyne Lamoureux of the United States (17) during the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )]()
5/20Goalkeeper Shannon Szabados of Canada (1) blocks a shot by Jocelyne Lamoureux of the United States (17) during the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )
Goalkeeper Shannon Szabados of Canada (1) blocks a shot by Jocelyne Lamoureux of the United States (17) during the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )![Alex Carpenter of the United States (25) looses her footing under pressure from Jocelyne Larocque of Canada (3) during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)]()
6/20Alex Carpenter of the United States (25) looses her footing under pressure from Jocelyne Larocque of Canada (3) during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Alex Carpenter of the United States (25) looses her footing under pressure from Jocelyne Larocque of Canada (3) during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)Yahoo News is better in the app
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![Jocelyne Lamoureux of the United States (17) tries to score against goalkeeper Shannon Szabados of Canada (1) during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)]()
7/20Jocelyne Lamoureux of the United States (17) tries to score against goalkeeper Shannon Szabados of Canada (1) during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Jocelyne Lamoureux of the United States (17) tries to score against goalkeeper Shannon Szabados of Canada (1) during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)![Goalkeeper Shannon Szabados of Canada (1) watches as Meghan Duggan of the United States is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal during the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )]()
8/20Goalkeeper Shannon Szabados of Canada (1) watches as Meghan Duggan of the United States is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal during the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )
Goalkeeper Shannon Szabados of Canada (1) watches as Meghan Duggan of the United States is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal during the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip )![Meghan Agosta-Marciano of Canada (2) and Anne Schleper of the United States (15) mix it up during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)]()
9/20Meghan Agosta-Marciano of Canada (2) and Anne Schleper of the United States (15) mix it up during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Meghan Agosta-Marciano of Canada (2) and Anne Schleper of the United States (15) mix it up during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)Yahoo News is better in the app
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![Anne Schleper of the United States (15) collides with Rebecca Johnston of Canada (6) during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)]()
10/20Anne Schleper of the United States (15) collides with Rebecca Johnston of Canada (6) during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Anne Schleper of the United States (15) collides with Rebecca Johnston of Canada (6) during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)![USA goalkeeper Jessie Vetter (31) blocks Meghan Agosta-Marciano of Canada (2) shot on the goal during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)]()
11/20USA goalkeeper Jessie Vetter (31) blocks Meghan Agosta-Marciano of Canada (2) shot on the goal during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
USA goalkeeper Jessie Vetter (31) blocks Meghan Agosta-Marciano of Canada (2) shot on the goal during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)![Lauriane Rougeau (5) and Marie-Philip Poulin of Canada (29) fight for the puck against Lyndsey Fry of the United States (18) during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)]()
12/20Lauriane Rougeau (5) and Marie-Philip Poulin of Canada (29) fight for the puck against Lyndsey Fry of the United States (18) during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Lauriane Rougeau (5) and Marie-Philip Poulin of Canada (29) fight for the puck against Lyndsey Fry of the United States (18) during the second period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)Yahoo News is better in the app
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![Meghan Duggan of the United States (10) collides with Tara Watchorn of Canada (27) during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)]()
13/20Meghan Duggan of the United States (10) collides with Tara Watchorn of Canada (27) during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Meghan Duggan of the United States (10) collides with Tara Watchorn of Canada (27) during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)![Kelli Stack of the United States (16) collides with Haley Irwin of Canada (21) during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)]()
14/20Kelli Stack of the United States (16) collides with Haley Irwin of Canada (21) during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Kelli Stack of the United States (16) collides with Haley Irwin of Canada (21) during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)![Michelle Picard of the United States (23) gets tangled up with Rebecca Johnston of Canada (6) during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)]()
15/20Michelle Picard of the United States (23) gets tangled up with Rebecca Johnston of Canada (6) during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Michelle Picard of the United States (23) gets tangled up with Rebecca Johnston of Canada (6) during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)Yahoo News is better in the app
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![Jocelyne Larocque of Canada (3) gets tangled up with Monique Lamoureux of the United States (7) during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)]()
16/20Jocelyne Larocque of Canada (3) gets tangled up with Monique Lamoureux of the United States (7) during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Jocelyne Larocque of Canada (3) gets tangled up with Monique Lamoureux of the United States (7) during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)![Jayna Hefford of Canada (16) loses her footing while sealing off the puck from Hilary Knight of the United States (21) during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)]()
17/20Jayna Hefford of Canada (16) loses her footing while sealing off the puck from Hilary Knight of the United States (21) during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Jayna Hefford of Canada (16) loses her footing while sealing off the puck from Hilary Knight of the United States (21) during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)![Brianna Decker of the United States (14) battles Jocelyne Larocque (3) and Laura Fortino of Canada (8) for the puck during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)]()
18/20Brianna Decker of the United States (14) battles Jocelyne Larocque (3) and Laura Fortino of Canada (8) for the puck during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Brianna Decker of the United States (14) battles Jocelyne Larocque (3) and Laura Fortino of Canada (8) for the puck during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)Yahoo News is better in the app
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![Hilary Knight of the United States (21) passes the puck against Canada during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)]()
19/20Hilary Knight of the United States (21) passes the puck against Canada during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Hilary Knight of the United States (21) passes the puck against Canada during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)![Monique Lamoureux of the United States (7) pins Lauriane Rougeau of Canada (5) against the boards during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)]()
20/20Monique Lamoureux of the United States (7) pins Lauriane Rougeau of Canada (5) against the boards during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Monique Lamoureux of the United States (7) pins Lauriane Rougeau of Canada (5) against the boards during the first period of the women's gold medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Amanda Kessel relished the opportunity her American women’s ice hockey team has earned at the Sochi Games. They’ll play for Olympic gold; but they’ll also get another chance to finally vanquish their rivals to the north.
Their second meeting of the tournament – Canada won in preliminaries, 3-2 – was inevitable; despite the women’s tournament being more competitive than in previous Olympics, these are the titans of their sport. Canada has won 19 consecutive Olympic contests, collecting three straight gold medals – including wins over the U.S. in Salt Lake City and Vancouver.
It’s the greatest rivalry in international hockey, no matter the gender of the participants. The competition is fierce.
— Martin Rogers
