NHL players are back at the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014, and Canada and its loaded roster of hockey stars are the gold medal frontrunners.
Team USA also has a strong roster and could compete with Canada if things go right. It’s led by captain Auston Matthews and assuredly wants another shot at the Canadians after losing an overtime heartbreaker, 3-2, in the 4-Nations Face-Off final last February.
USA hasn’t won a gold medal since 1980, when the underdog group of amateurs defeated the Soviet Union in the famed ‘Miracle on Ice’ game before taking down Finland in the championship. Finland is the defending gold medalist from the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Here’s a look at every gold medal winner in the history of Winter Olympics hockey:
Olympic hockey gold medal winners: Complete list
Here’s the full list of gold medal countries by year in Olympic hockey:
2022: Finland
2018: Olympic Athletes from Russia
2014: Canada
2010: Canada
2006: Sweden
2002: Canada
1998: Czech Republic
1994: Sweden
1992: Unified Team (after Soviet Union dissolved)
1988: Soviet Union
1984: Soviet Union
1980: United States
1976: Soviet Union
1972: Soviet Union
1968: Soviet Union
1964: Soviet Union
1960: United States
1956: Soviet Union
1952: Canada
1948: Canada
1936: Great Britain
1932: Canada
1928: Canada
1924: Canada
1920: Canada
Contact Austin Curtright at acurtright@gannett.com