The ice hockey game is one of the most popular sports in the world, and it has a special place in the Olympic program. The first Olympics in ice hockey were held in 1920, and the sport became a permanent fixture from 1924 onwards. The men’s and women’s tournaments alternate every four years, with the top teams from each event getting to play for gold.
The most dramatic moment in men’s Olympic ice hockey history came at the 1980 Lake Placid Games, when the U.S. defeated the mighty Soviet Union in a game known as the Miracle on Ice. The lopsided victory was a sign that the end of the Cold War was near, and that the powerful Soviet team would be broken up soon by the lure of professional salaries in other countries.
This year, the men’s tournament takes place in Vancouver, where Canada is favored to win. Teemu Selanne, 43, is the oldest player ever to win a gold medal in ice hockey, and his goal-scoring prowess is unmatched by anyone in the history of the sport.
In women’s hockey, Canadians Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford hold the record for most total medals, with each winning five. Their teammates Becky Kellar and Caroline Ouellette have won three each, with American Angela Ruggiero and Jenny Potter also having won three silvers.
In 1998, the NHL and the IIHF agreed to allow NHL players to participate in the Olympic competition. Since then, it has become a tradition that the best players from around the world come together in the Olympics to compete.