Olympic ice hockey, a fast-paced game played on small rinks by seven skaters and a goalie, has a history of high drama. From 1920 to 1992, teams competed in a round-robin format and medal winners were determined by total points. In 1998, the Olympics introduced playoffs and NHL-caliber players, and the sport has been a mainstay since. The United States has won six gold medals and Canada five, and the 2018 event in PyeongChang featured a memorable finish when Canadians beat Sweden for gold and Teemu Selanne — at age 43 — became the oldest Olympic goal scorer and winner.
The International Ice Hockey Federation, founded in 1908, regulates the Olympic tournament and rules of play. The rules differ slightly from the NHL’s and, for instance, in Olympic ice hockey, only the attacking team may place its stick on the ice first for face-offs.
One of the most dramatic moments in Olympic ice hockey occurred in 1980 in Lake Placid. With the Soviet Union a serious medal threat and the U.S. trailing 2-1 in the opening period, it seemed the Americans would lose to the defending champions. But Buzz Schneider tied it up with a dagger of a slap shot, and, with less than a minute left in the first period, Dave Christian ripped a long slap shot at Soviet goalie Vladislav Tretiak.
He hit the puck right on target, and, according to IIHF rules, it must cross the goal line for a goal to count. Then the shootout began, and the U.S.’s Eric Lindros and Germany’s Peter Draisaitl both missed. And that’s how the Miracle on Ice happened, a moment that Sports Illustrated named the top sports event of the 20th century and ESPN viewers voted the greatest highlight of all time.