Amazing Moments in Olympic History: 1998 Women's Ice Hockey Team

With the announcement yesterday of Mark Johnson as head coach for the 2010 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team, we take a look back at the team that paved the way for them.

Eleven years ago in Nagano, Japan, history was made when women's ice hockey was first contested in the Olympic Winter Games.  There were six countries competing for gold, though it was expected that it would all come down to Canada, the winner of the previous four World Championships, and the United States. 

The U.S. defeated every other team in preliminary play before facing Canada in the gold medal game.  After a scoreless first period, the U.S. scored two power-play goals in the second and third.  Canada finally answered with a goal of their own, their first and only of the game. 

In the final minutes of the game Canada pulled their goaltender in an attempt to tie up the score, but it was not meant to be.  The U.S. team gained possession of the puck and ended the suspense with an empty net goal in the final seconds of play.  With a final score of 3-1, the U.S. women's ice hockey team had become the first Olympic gold medalists in their sport.

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"Amazing Moments in Olympic History" will be published every Wednesday on teamusa.org.  Check back weekly to see more landmark achievements and incredible feats in the history of Team USA and the Olympic Movement.

Tags: 1998, Amazing Moments, Gold Medalists, Mark Johnson, Nagano, Women's Ice Hockey