From the first Olympic tournament in 1920, ice hockey has become one of the most popular and exciting events at the Olympics. From 1950 to 1988, teams from Canada and Sweden dominated the men’s competition. Then the Soviet Union entered and took control of the game, winning nine consecutive gold medals until they dissolved in 1991. The 1992 games in Albertville marked the end of that era when a team of former Soviet states won gold under the new name, the Unified Team.

The most famous moment in Olympic hockey occurred on February 22, 1980, during a semi-final game against the Soviets at Lake Placid. The United States trailed the Soviets 2-1 in the first period and were down 3-1 in the third. With ten minutes left, captain Mike Eruzione picked up a loose puck in the Soviet zone and used a defenseman as a screen to score a wrist shot into the empty goal to win 4-3. The victory became known as the Miracle on Ice and was a huge boost for a nation that had been shaken by the hostage crisis in Iran.

In the following years, players started wearing helmets and goalie masks, the rules were standardized to six players per team, and the tournament format was adjusted to allow NHL players to compete. The event has continued to grow with the introduction of women’s hockey in 1998 and now features 12 nations competing for gold. Canada leads the way with four medals, followed by the United States with two golds, two silvers and three bronzes. The most successful women’s player is Canadian Hayley Wickenheiser with five medals, including four golds.