Team USA: curse lifted, confidence unlocked
Say it loud: for the first time since 1960*, the United States are ice hockey world champions. That fact alone reshapes the narrative heading into the next Olympic Winter Games.
Coming into the semi-finals, the Americans carried the weight of history: no major title since 1960, just one silver in 1950, and a long line of bronzes that hardly reflect the nation’s status as a hockey superpower. But this time, the drought ended with gold.
Buffalo Sabres centre Tage Thompson delivered the golden goal in overtime, sealing a dramatic 1–0 win over Switzerland. “I think all these guys love their country, and to have that logo, that crest, on their chest, you have a lot to play for. That should give you a lot of juice,” said head coach Ryan Warsofsky, whose cool demeanour behind the bench mirrored his team’s focus on the ice.
Warsofsky credited a versatile, tight-knit squad for the breakthrough. “Our leadership group with Garland, Thompson, Brady Skjei, Werenski, obviously Keller, really helped our young guys, and kind of got them back on the rails, so we’re a confident group.”
That confidence certainly wasn’t misplaced. Over the course of the tournament, the U.S. adjusted to every challenge; outlasting Finland’s grind, matching Sweden’s depth, and breaking through Switzerland’s MVP-winning goaltending in the final. This was a team that proved it could win in more than one way.
This gold came despite the absence of many American NHL stars, who were unavailable due to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
With the U.S. women also reigning world champions, both American senior teams now hold the top titles in international hockey.
“We’re raising the bar. It’s a new regime. We want to make it that way. USA Hockey is here to stay and this is the first step for us to do that,” said goaltender Jeremy Swayman, echoing the sense that this gold could be the start of something much bigger.
*The 1960 Olympic tournament doubled as that year’s World Championship. Prior to that, the U.S. last claimed World Championship gold in 1933.
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