Ice hockey at the Olympic Games#Rules

File:Winnipegfalcons.jpg (pictured en route to the 1920 Summer Olympics) were the first Olympic champions in ice hockey.]]

The first Olympic ice hockey tournament took place at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium.{{Cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/programme/index_uk.asp?SportCode=IH|title=Ice hockey|publisher=International Olympic Committee|access-date=1 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323022731/http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/programme/index_uk.asp?SportCode=IH|archive-date=23 March 2009 }} At the time, organized international ice hockey was still relatively new.{{cite book|title=Hockey: Canada's Royal Winter Game|year=1899|last=Farrell|first=Arthur|publisher=C.R. Corneil|page=27}} The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the sport's governing body, was created on 15 May 1908, and was known as the Ligue Internationale de Hockey sur Glace (LIHG) until 1947.{{Cite web|title=It all started in Paris, 1908|url=http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/history/the-iihf.html|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date=1 March 2009|archive-date=23 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723003901/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/history/the-iihf.html|url-status=live}} At the 1914 Olympic Congress in Paris, ice hockey was added to the list of optional sports that Olympics organizers could include.{{harvnb|Morales|2004|p=275}} The decision to include ice hockey for the 1920 Summer Olympics was made in January, three months before the start of the Games. Several occurrences led to the sport's inclusion in the programme. Five European nations had committed to participating in the tournament and the managers of Antwerp's Palais de Glace stadium refused to allow the building to be used for figure skating unless ice hockey was included.{{harvnb|Podnieks|1997|pp=1–10}} The IIHF considers the 1920 tournament to be the first Ice Hockey World Championship. From then on, the two events occurred concurrently, and every Olympic tournament until 1968 is counted as the World Championship.{{Cite web|title=International hockey timeline|url=http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/history/the-iihf/timeline.html|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date=1 March 2009|archive-date=14 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714164454/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/history/the-iihf/timeline.html|url-status=live}} The Olympic Games were originally intended for amateur athletes, so the players of the National Hockey League (NHL) and other professional leagues were not allowed to play.

The first Winter Olympic Games were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France.{{cite web|url= http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=2&OLGY=1924|title= Chamonix 1924|publisher= International Olympic Committee|access-date= 31 January 2009|archive-date= 21 April 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080421235539/http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=2&OLGY=1924|url-status= live}} Chapter 1, article 6, of the 2007 edition of the Olympic Charter defines winter sports as "sports which are practised on snow or ice".{{cite press release|title=Olympic Charter|publisher=International Olympic Committee|url=http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_122.pdf|access-date=4 March 2009|date=7 July 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727143137/http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_122.pdf|archive-date=27 July 2011 }} Ice hockey and figure skating were permanently integrated in the Winter Olympics programme.{{cite web|url=http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=6787|title=This Day in History 1924: First Winter Olympics|work=This day in History|publisher=A&E Television Networks|access-date=1 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305102457/http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=6787|archive-date=5 March 2009}} The IOC made the Winter Games a permanent fixture and they were held the same year as the Summer Games until 1992. Following that, further Winter Games have been held on the third year (i.e. 1994, 1998, etc.) of each Olympiad.{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/53103.stm|title= Sport: Winter Olympics 98–History of the winter Olympics|work= BBC News|date= 5 February 1998|access-date= 6 April 2009|archive-date= 13 March 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120313195450/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/53103.stm|url-status= live}}

File:1920 olympics poster.jpg]]

The men's tournament held at the 1920 Summer Olympics was organized by a committee that included future LIHG president Paul Loicq. The tournament used the Bergvall System, in which three rounds were played. The first round was an elimination tournament that determined the gold medal winner. The second round consisted of the teams that were defeated by the gold medal winner; the winner of that round was awarded the silver medal. The final round was played between teams that had lost to the gold or silver medal winners; the winner of that round received the bronze medal.

The tournament was played from 23 to 29 April and seven teams participated: Canada, Czechoslovakia, the United States, Switzerland, Sweden, France and Belgium. Canada chose to send the Allan Cup-winning Winnipeg Falcons. The Swedish team consisted of mostly bandy players, many of whom had only started playing hockey in preparation for the tournament. Canadian team manager W. A. Hewitt refereed the first game played, an 8–0 win by Sweden versus

Belgium.{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/IZone/izone.member.info.do?mem=22|title=IIHF Honour Roll: W. A. Hewitt|year=2013|website=Legends of Hockey|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=3 January 2022|archive-date=13 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513205428/http://www.legendsofhockey.net/IZone/izone.member.info.do?mem=22|url-status=live}}

Canada won all three of the team's games in the first round and won the gold medal, defeating Sweden in the final and outscoring opponents 27–1.{{Cite web|title=1920 – Summer Olympics VII (Antwerp, Belgium)|url=https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/feature/?fid=9346|publisher=The Sports Network|access-date=1 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827125206/http://www.tsn.ca/olympics/feature/?fid=9346|archive-date=27 August 2008|url-status=dead}} In the two subsequent rounds, the United States and Czechoslovakia won the silver and bronze medals respectively.{{cite news|title=United States is second at hockey; Victory Over Czechoslovak Team by 16 to 0 Gives Americans 3 Points in Olympics.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B0CE4D81E3CEE3ABC4151DFB266838B639EDE|date=29 April 1920|access-date=1 March 2009|work=The New York Times|archive-date=5 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905005951/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B0CE4D81E3CEE3ABC4151DFB266838B639EDE|url-status=live}} The Bergvall System was criticized, especially in Sweden, because the Swedish team had to play six games (winning three) while the bronze medal-winning Czech team only had to play three (winning one). Erik Bergvall, the creator of the system, stated that it was used incorrectly and that a tournament of all of the losing teams from the first round should have been played for the silver medal. Because of these criticisms, the Bergvall System was not used again for ice hockey.

In 1924, the tournament was played in a round-robin format, consisting of a preliminary round and a medal round. The medals were awarded based on win–loss records during the medal round.{{Cite web|title=1924 – Winter Olympics I (Chamonix, France)|url=https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/feature/?fid=10263|publisher=The Sports Network|access-date=1 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903094824/http://www.tsn.ca/olympics/feature/?fid=10263|archive-date=3 September 2009|url-status=dead}} This format was used until 1988, although the number of teams and games played varied slightly. The Toronto Granites, representing Canada, became one of the dominant hockey teams in Olympic history, outscoring opponents 110–3, led by Harry Watson, who scored 36 goals.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-53.html Story #53–Harry Watson scores at will in Olympics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723004002/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-53.html|date=23 July 2018 }}. The United States won silver and Great Britain won bronze.{{Cite web|title=Ice Hockey at the 1924 Chamonix Winter Games: Men's Ice Hockey|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/winter/1924/ICH/mens-ice-hockey.html|publisher=sports-reference.com|access-date=1 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607094947/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/winter/1924/ICH/mens-ice-hockey.html|archive-date=7 June 2009 }} Watson's 36 goals remains the tournament record for career goals. He also set the record for career points with 36 (assists were not counted at the time), which stood until 2010.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/winter/2010/icehockey/news/story?id=4930248|title=Selanne's 37th point tops Games mark|publisher=ESPN|date=20 February 2010|access-date=24 September 2010|archive-date=11 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111061200/http://sports.espn.go.com/olympics/winter/2010/icehockey/news/story?id=4930248|url-status=live}}

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-05472, St. Moritz, Winterolympiade.jpg]]

Eleven teams participated in the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The Canadian team was given a bye to the medal round and won all of its games by a combined score of 38–0.{{Cite web|title=1928 – Winter Olympics II (St. Moritz, Switzerland)|url=https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/feature/?fid=10264|publisher=The Sports Network|access-date=1 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903094131/http://www.tsn.ca/olympics/feature/?fid=10264|archive-date=3 September 2009|url-status=dead}} The Swedish and Swiss teams won their first medals—silver and bronze respectively—and a German team participated for the first time, finishing ninth.{{cite book|title=Rapport Général du Comité Exécutif des II^mes Jeux Olympiques d'hiver|author=Comité Olympique Suisse|publisher=Imprimerie du Léman|location=Lausanne|year=1928|language=fr|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1928/1928w1.pdf|access-date=31 January 2008|archive-date=12 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212105450/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1928/1928w1.pdf|url-status=live}} At the 1932 Winter Olympics, Canada won gold in a tournament that consisted of four teams that played each other twice.{{Cite web|title=1932 – Winter Olympics III (Lake Placid, United States)|url=https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/feature/?fid=10265|publisher=The Sports Network|access-date=1 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903094341/http://www.tsn.ca/olympics/feature/?fid=10265|archive-date=3 September 2009|url-status=dead}} Germany won bronze, the nation's first medal in the sport.{{cite book|title=Official Report III Olympic Winter Games Lake Placid 1932|editor=Lattimer, George|publisher=Olympic Winter Games Committee|location=Lake Placid, New York|year=1932|pages=70–72, 270|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1932/1932w.pdf|access-date=17 April 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410085042/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1932/1932w.pdf|archive-date=10 April 2008 }}

File:1936 US Olympic Ice Hockey Team.jpg.]]

Two days before the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Canadian officials protested that two players on the British team—James Foster and Alex Archer—had played in Canada but transferred without permission to play for clubs in the English National League. The IIHF agreed with Canada, but Great Britain threatened to withdraw the team if the two were barred from competing. To avoid a conflict, Canada withdrew the protest shortly before the Games began. The tournament consisted of four groups and fifteen teams. Great Britain became the first non-Canadian team to win gold; Canada won silver and the United States bronze.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-15.html Story #15–Great Britain wins Olympic gold] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226051200/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-15.html|date=26 February 2014 }}.

The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) revised its definition of amateur and broke away from the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada in 1936, despite the possibility that its players may no longer be eligible for Olympic hockey.{{cite book|last=Young|first=Scott|author-link1=Scott Young (writer)|title=100 Years of Dropping the Puck|publisher=McClelland & Stewart Inc.|date=1989|location=Toronto, Ontario|isbn=0-7710-9093-5|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/100yearsofdroppi0000youn|pages=189–192}} Tommy Lockhart founded the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States (AHAUS) in 1937, after disagreements with the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States over international amateurs.{{cite news|title=Eastern U.S. Puck Loops Quits A.A.U.|date=31 August 1937|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=36|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-aug-31-1937-1545914/|access-date=24 April 2020|archive-date=22 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322193434/https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-aug-31-1937-1545914/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=b196502&type=Builder&page=bio&list=ByName|title=Lockhart, Thomas – Honoured Builder|website=Legends of Hockey|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=1 January 2020|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725042953/https://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=b196502&type=Builder&page=bio&list=ByName|url-status=live}} The CAHA and the AHAUS joined to form the International Ice Hockey Association in 1940.{{cite news|title=New Controlling Body Formed at C.A.H.A. Meet|last=Clarke|first=Robert|date=16 April 1940|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=15|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-apr-16-1940-1471642/|access-date=24 April 2020|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108002327/https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-apr-16-1940-1471642/|url-status=live}}{{free access}} Its president W. G. Hardy sought for acceptance by the IOC on terms acceptable to the CAHA.{{cite news|title=Dr. Hardy Outlines Scheme at Annual Gathering C.A.H.A.|date=4 January 1941|newspaper=Lethbridge Herald|location=Lethbridge, Alberta|page=18|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jan-04-1941-1472071/|access-date=24 April 2020|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801203541/https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jan-04-1941-1472071/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}{{cite news|title=Rules, Playdowns Discussed at C.A.H.A. Meeting|date=4 January 1941|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=21|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jan-04-1941-1472072/|access-date=24 April 2020|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801203146/https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jan-04-1941-1472072/|url-status=live}}{{free access}} CAHA president George Dudley subsequently threatened to withdraw Canada from the Olympics over the definition of amateur. An IOC decision on the matter was postponed when the 1940 Winter Olympics and 1944 Winter Olympics were cancelled due to World War II.{{cite journal|journal=Olympic Review|issue=8|date=January 1940|title=The Fifth Olympic Winter Games Will Not Be Held|pages=8–10|editor=Diem, Carl|publisher=International Olympic Institute|location=Berlin|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1940/ORUE8/ORUE8c.pdf|type=PDF|access-date=3 March 2009|archive-date=20 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220084429/http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1940/ORUE8/ORUE8c.pdf|url-status=live}} In 1947, the LIHG agreed to a merger with the International Ice Hockey Association, was subsequently renamed to the IIHF, and recognized the AHAUS as the governing body of hockey in the United States instead of the AAU.{{cite news|title=C.A.H.A. Gains Few Points at Prague Hockey Confab|date=22 March 1947|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=33|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-22-1947-1462563/|access-date=24 April 2020|archive-date=2 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202112044/https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-22-1947-1462563/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}

The IIHF considered whether to have an ice hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics, or host a separate Ice Hockey World Championships elsewhere in Switzerland in 1948.{{cite news|title=Olympic Hockey Question Soon Will Be Decided|date=5 July 1947|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=15|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jul-05-1947-1554275/|access-date=24 April 2020|archive-date=17 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217043203/https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jul-05-1947-1554275/|url-status=live}}{{free access}} Avery Brundage of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) reportedly campaigned to IIHF delegates to vote against inclusion of the AHAUS in the upcoming Olympics.{{cite news|title=Hockey Politics Are Rampant in Zurich|date=10 September 1947|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=18|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-sep-10-1947-1554322/|access-date=24 April 2020|archive-date=17 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217043204/https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-sep-10-1947-1554322/|url-status=live}}{{free access}} The LIHG passed a resolution that its teams would only play against teams approved by the CAHA and the AHAUS, which was accepted by the Swiss Olympic organizing committee.{{cite news|title=Yank Puck Bodies Are Feudin' And Fightin'|date=8 November 1947|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=22|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-08-1947-1554343/|access-date=24 April 2020|archive-date=17 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217043205/https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-08-1947-1554343/|url-status=live}}{{free access}} Brundage threatened that the USOC would boycott the Olympics if the AHAUS team was recognized. The Swiss Olympic organizing committee insisted on the AHAUS team being recognized, despite persistent charges by Brundage that the AHAUS team was "tainted with professionalism".{{cite news|title=Bitter, Long-Drawn Out Olympic Hockey Controversy Still Rages|date=27 January 1948|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=12|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jan-27-1948-1554401/|access-date=24 April 2020|archive-date=17 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217060632/https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jan-27-1948-1554401/|url-status=live}}{{free access}} Brundage and the AAU supported a National Collegiate Athletic Association team instead. After bitter negotiations which were not resolved until the night before the Olympics, the AHAUS team was allowed to play in the tournament, but the IOC declared those games would not count in the standings.{{cite news|title='Squawk' Valley Hassles 'Duck Soup'|last=Sullivan|first=Jack|author-link=Jack Sullivan (journalist)|date=23 February 1960|newspaper=Brandon Sun|location=Brandon, Manitoba|page=7|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-23-1960-1536343/|access-date=24 April 2020|archive-date=4 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204045452/https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-23-1960-1536343/|url-status=live}}{{free access}}

Both Czechoslovakia and Canada won seven games and tied when they played each other. The gold medal winner was determined by goal difference: Canada won the gold because it had an average of 13.8 goals per game compared to Czechoslovakia's average of 4.3.{{cite book|title=Rapport Général sur les V^es Jeux Olympiques d'hiver St-Moritz 1948|author=Comité Olympique Suisse|page=69|publisher=H. Jaunin|location=Lausanne|date=January 1951|language=fr|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1948/ORW1948.pdf|access-date=3 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410085049/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1948/ORW1948.pdf|archive-date=10 April 2008 }} Czechoslovakia's team was quickly improving; it won the 1947 and 1949 World Championships.{{cite web|title = Past medalists–IIHF World Championships|publisher = International Ice Hockey Federation|url = http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/history/all-medallists/men.html|access-date = 1 March 2009|archive-date = 28 February 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100228064854/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/history/all-medallists/men.html|url-status = live}} The AHAUS team finished fourth in the standings in 1948.{{Cite web|title=Ice Hockey at the 1948 Sankt Moritz Winter Games: Men's Ice Hockey|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/winter/1948/ICH/mens-ice-hockey.html|publisher=sports-reference.com|access-date=1 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903111140/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/winter/1948/ICH/mens-ice-hockey.html|archive-date=3 September 2009 }}{{harvnb|Podnieks|1997|pp=53–66}}

Discussions began in 1950, whether or not ice hockey would be included in the 1952 Winter Olympics hosted in Oslo. The IOC sought assurance that participating teams would adhere to its amateur code rather than what was accepted by the IIHF, and also wanted to exclude IIHF president Fritz Kraatz from negotiations. George Dudley and W. G. Hardy agreed there would be no negotiations on those terms, nor would they repudiate Kraatz. Dudley referred to the IOC as dictatorial and undemocratic, and expected the IIHF to discuss having its own 1952 Ice Hockey World Championships instead. He further stated that the Olympics would be a financial failure without the inclusion of hockey.{{cite news|title=International Puck Bodies Widely Split|date=18 May 1950|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=17|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-may-18-1950-1555023/|access-date=24 April 2020|archive-date=17 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217230710/https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-may-18-1950-1555023/|url-status=live}}{{free access}} Hockey was ultimately included in the Olympics, and the gold medal was won by Canada's team for the second consecutive Games. It would be the last time that a Canadian team would win a gold medal in hockey for 50 years.{{Cite web|title=1952 – Winter Olympics VI (Oslo, Norway)|url=https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/feature/?fid=10270|publisher=The Sports Network|access-date=1 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604053103/http://www.tsn.ca/olympics/feature/?fid=10270|archive-date=4 June 2011|url-status=dead}} The United States won silver and Sweden won bronze. A team from Finland competed for the first time.{{Cite web|title=Finland Ice Hockey: Men's Ice Hockey|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/FIN/winter/ICH/mens-ice-hockey.html|publisher=sports-reference.com|access-date=1 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903110423/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/FIN/winter/ICH/mens-ice-hockey.html|archive-date=3 September 2009 }}

File:Vladislav Tretiak.JPG of the USSR is the only male athlete to have won three gold medals and one silver in ice hockey.]]

The Soviet Union competed in its first World Championship in 1954, defeating Canada and winning the gold medal.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-25.html Story #25–Soviet Union win their first Olympics, starting a new hockey era] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221063045/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-25.html|date=21 February 2014 }}. At the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, the Soviet team went undefeated and won its first gold medal. Canada's team lost to the Soviets and the United States in the medal round, winning the bronze. The 1960 Winter Olympics, in Squaw Valley, United States, saw the first, and to date only, team from Australia compete in the tournament. Canada, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Sweden were the top four teams heading into the Games, but were all defeated by the American team, which won all seven games en route to its first Olympic gold medal. Canada won the silver medal and the Soviet Union won the bronze.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-16.html Story #16–USA's original but unheralded "Miracle on Ice"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330053412/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-16.html|date=30 March 2010 }}.

At the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, the Soviet team won all seven of its games, earning the gold medal. Canada finished the tournament with five wins and two losses, putting the team in a three-way tie for second place with Sweden and Czechoslovakia. Before 1964, the tie-breaking procedure was based on goal difference in games against teams in the medal round; under that system, Canada would have placed third ahead of the Czechoslovakian team. During the tournament the procedure was changed to take all games into consideration, which meant that the Canadians finished fourth.{{Cite web|title=1964 – Winter Olympics IX (Innsbruck, Austria)|url=https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/feature/?fid=10273|publisher=The Sports Network|access-date=1 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903094829/http://www.tsn.ca/olympics/feature/?fid=10273|archive-date=3 September 2009|url-status=dead}} At the time, the Olympics counted as the World Championships; under their (unchanged) rules, Canada should have received bronze for the World Championships.{{Cite web|title='64 Team Canada gets bronze medals|url=https://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/story/?id=123399&lid=sublink05&lpos=topStory_canadian_hockey|publisher=The Sports Network|date=30 April 2005|access-date=2 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903094316/http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/story/?id=123399&lid=sublink05&lpos=topStory_canadian_hockey|archive-date=3 September 2009|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=1964 Canadian Olympic hockey team to be honoured|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/1964-canadian-olympic-hockey-team-to-be-honoured-1.522774|publisher=CBC Sports|date=29 April 2005|access-date=2 March 2009|archive-date=4 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104090959/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2005/04/29/olympichockey050429.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/story/?id=127513|title=IIHF denies Canada 1964 bronze|date=5 June 2005|publisher=The Sports Network|access-date=2 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903094026/http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/story/?id=127513|archive-date=3 September 2009|url-status=dead}}

The Soviet Union won its third gold medal with a 7–1 record in the 1968 Grenoble Olympics. Czechoslovakia and Canada won the silver and bronze medals.{{cite book|title=Xth Winter Olympic Games Official Report|publisher=Comité d'Organisation des xèmes Jeux Olympiques d'Hiver de Grenoble|year=1969|page=386|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1968/or1968.pdf|access-date=3 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226202636/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1968/or1968.pdf|archive-date=26 February 2008 }} It was the last time that the Olympics were counted as the World Championships. In 1970, Canada withdrew from international ice hockey competition protesting the use of full-time "amateurs" by the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia,{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-17.html|title=PROTESTING AMATEUR RULES, CANADA LEAVES INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY|author=IIHF|year=2008|publisher=IIHF.com|access-date=25 August 2017|archive-date=27 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227214712/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-17.html|url-status=live}}Coffey, p. 59 and the team did not participate in the 1972 and 1976 Winter Olympics. Led by goaltender Vladislav Tretiak and forwards Valeri Kharlamov, Alexander Yakushev, Vladimir Petrov and Boris Mikhailov, the Soviet team won gold at both the 1972 Games in Sapporo, Japan and 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-67.html Story #67–The perfect game against the best team: Czechoslovaks–Soviets 7–2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213014153/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-67.html|date=13 December 2014 }}. In 1971, the United States finished last at the World Championships and was relegated to Pool B. The team qualified for the 1972 Olympics and won silver, making it the first Pool B team to win an Olympic medal.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-97.html Story #97–B Pool Americans win Olympic silver in 1972] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328015421/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-97.html|date=28 March 2008 }}. Czechoslovakia won the bronze medal in 1972.{{cite book|title=The Official Report of XIth Winter Olympic Games, Sapporo 1972|publisher=The Organizing Committee for the Sapporo Olympic Winter Games|year=1973|pages=228–229|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1972/orw1972.pdf|access-date=6 April 2009|archive-date=26 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226202605/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1972/orw1972.pdf|url-status=live }} In 1976, Czechoslovakia won the silver and West Germany won bronze.{{cite book|title=XII. Olympische Winterspiele Innsbruck 1976 Final Report|editor=Neumann, Bertl|publisher=Organizing Committee for the XIIth Winter Olympic Games 1976 at Innsbruck|page=163|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1976/orw1976.pdf|access-date=6 April 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226202233/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1976/orw1976.pdf|archive-date=26 February 2008 }} Along with Canada, the Swedish team did not participate in the 1976 tournament joining the boycott.{{harvnb|Podnieks|1997|p=130}}

{{Main|Miracle on Ice}}

File:2002 Winter Olympics flame - Cropped.jpg at the 2002 Winter Olympics.{{cite news|title=Olympics: Opening ceremony; Games Begin|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0DEFD8123CF93AA35751C0A9649C8B63|author=Roberts, Selena|work=The New York Times|access-date=2 March 2009|date=9 February 2002|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019234611/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/09/sports/olympics-opening-ceremony-pomp-and-patriotism-as-games-begin.html|url-status=live}}]]

The Winter Olympics returned to Lake Placid, New York in 1980. Twelve teams participated in the tournament, including Canada for the first time since 1968. The Soviet Union had won the gold medal in five of the six previous Winter Olympic Games, and were the favorites to win once more in Lake Placid. The team consisted of full-time players with significant experience in international play. By contrast, the United States' team—led by head coach Herb Brooks—consisted exclusively of amateur players with mostly college experience, and was the youngest team in the tournament and in U.S. national team history. In the group stage, both the Soviet and U.S. teams were unbeaten; the U.S. achieved several notable results, including a 2–2 draw against Sweden, and a 7–3 upset victory over second-place favorites Czechoslovakia.

For the first game in the medal round, the United States played the Soviets. The first period finished tied at 2–2, and the Soviets led 3–2 following the second. The U.S. team scored two more goals to take their first lead during the third and final period, winning the game 4–3. Following the game, the U.S. went on to clinch the gold medal by beating Finland in the final. The Soviet Union took the silver medal by beating Sweden.

The victory became one of the most iconic moments of the Games and in U.S. sports. Equally well-known was the television call of the final seconds of the game by Al Michaels for ABC, in which he declared: "Do you believe in miracles?! YES!" In 1999, Sports Illustrated named the "Miracle on Ice" the top sports moment of the 20th century.{{cite magazine|url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/cover/news/1999/12/02/awards/|title= The 20th Century Awards: Sports Illustrated honors world's greatest athletes|magazine= Sports Illustrated|access-date= 11 June 2011|date= 3 December 1999|archive-date= 4 January 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140104002640/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/cover/news/1999/12/02/awards/|url-status= dead }} As part of its centennial celebration in 2008, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) named the "Miracle on Ice" as the best international ice hockey story of the past 100 years.{{cite web|url= http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship/top-story-of-the-century.html|title= Top Story of the Century|publisher= International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date= 4 April 2010|archive-date= 24 March 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100324204559/http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship/top-story-of-the-century.html|url-status= live }}

At the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union won its sixth gold medal. Czechoslovakia and Sweden won the silver and bronze medals.{{cite book|title=Official Report of the Organising Committee of the XlVth Winter Olympic Games 1984 at Sarajevo|publisher=Oslobodenje|location=Sarajevo|year=1984|page=88|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1984/or1984w.pdf|access-date=3 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126020725/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1984/or1984w.pdf|archive-date=26 November 2011 }} The 1988 Winter Olympics were held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where the Soviet team captured its seventh and final gold medal. The Soviets' last Olympic game was a loss to Finland. The Finnish team was not considered a serious medal contender—it had competed in the World Championships since 1939 and had not won a single medal. However, Finland upset the Soviets 2–1 and won silver.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-95.html Story #95–1988 Olympic silver – Finland is finally a true hockey power] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213014113/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-95.html|date=13 December 2014 }}. The IIHF decided to change the tournament format because in several cases, the gold medal winner had been decided before the final day of play. During a congress in 1990, the IIHF introduced a playoff system.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-89.html Story #89–Finally, there's a real final game, The IIHF adopts a playoff system] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502045050/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-89.html|date=2 May 2008 }}. The new system was used at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. Preliminary round-robin games were held and followed by an eight-team cup-system style medal round that culminated in a gold medal game.

File:Helminen's last game.jpg, a six-time Olympian, won a silver in 1988 and bronze medals in 1994 and 1998.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-58.html Story #58–Raimo Helminen, 38, dresses for a sixth Olympics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010124215/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-58.html|date=10 October 2008 }}.]]

Before 1989, players who lived in the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and other nations behind the Iron Curtain were not allowed to leave and play in the NHL.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-65.html Story #65–Igor Larionov openly revolts against coach, system] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213012013/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-65.html|date=13 December 2014 }}. Soviet officials agreed to allow players to leave following the 1989 World Championships.{{Cite news|last=Duhatschek|first=Eric|title=GMs figure Soviets one day will flood market|date=18 June 1989|page=E4|newspaper=Calgary Herald}}{{Cite book|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2002/09/27/soviet_legacy/|title=Sweeping Changes|access-date=23 March 2009|date=27 September 2002|publisher=Sports Illustrated|archive-date=18 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218151946/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2002/09/27/soviet_legacy|url-status=dead }} The Soviet Union dissolved in December 1991. Nine former Soviet states became part of the IIHF and started competing internationally, including the successor state Russia, as well as Belarus, Kazakhstan, Latvia and Ukraine.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-42.html Story #42–Breakup of old Europe creates a new hockey world] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615155631/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-42.html|date=15 June 2009 }}. At the 1992 Olympics, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan competed as one entity, known as the Unified Team. In the final, the Unified Team defeated Canada to win gold while Czechoslovakia won the bronze.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-59.html Story #59–Team with no name wins Olympic gold] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006121044/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-59.html|date=6 October 2008 }}.

Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in January 1993. The IIHF recognized the Czech Republic as the successor to Czechoslovakia, allowing the team to retain its position in the top World Championship division, while Slovakia started in the lowest division (Pool C) in 1994 and was forced to work its way up.{{Cite web |title=Story #22 |url=https://webarchive.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-22/index.html |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=webarchive.iihf.com}}{{Cite web |title=Story #75 |url=https://webarchive.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-75/index.html |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=webarchive.iihf.com}}{{cite web |last1=Szemberg |first1=Szymon |last2=Podnieks |first2=Andrew |date=May 2008 |title=Story #77–Recently separated, Czechs and Slovaks meet in World Championships final |url=https://webarchive.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-77/index.html |access-date=11 March 2009 |website=International Ice Hockey Federation}}{{Cite web |title=IIHF - Brotherly but divided |url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2023/wm20/news/41449/brotherly_but_divided |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=IIHF International Ice Hockey Federation |language=en}} Both nations competed in the tournament at the 1994 Winter Olympics, as did Russia. Slovakia and Finland both finished the preliminary round undefeated. Slovakia lost their medal round quarter-final game to Russia 2–3 OT, who later lost to Sweden 3–4 in the semi-final and Finland (who was defeated by Canada in another semi-final) 0–4 in the bronze medal game. In the gold medal game between Sweden and Canada, both teams finished regulation and overtime play with a 2–2 tie. In the resulting shootout, the first in Olympic competition,{{harvnb|Judd|2008|p=121}} both nations scored two goals, which resulted in a sudden death shootout. Peter Forsberg of Sweden scored one of the most famous goals in Olympic history by faking a forehand shot, then sliding a one-handed backhand shot past goaltender Corey Hirsch.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/channels10/olympics-2010/news/news-singleview-world-championship-2009/browse/17/article/owning-the-moment.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=3468&cHash=f66b6ba77f|title=Owning the moment|author=O'Connor, Joe|work=National Post|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation|date=28 February 2009|access-date=24 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119081922/http://www.iihf.com/channels10/olympics-2010/news/news-singleview-world-championship-2009/browse/17/article/owning-the-moment.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=3468&cHash=f66b6ba77f|archive-date=19 November 2011}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/olympics1998/history/1994/articles/94-hockfin.htm|title=Sweden Wins on Forsberg's Shot in Shootout|author=Howard, Johnette|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=4 March 2009|date=28 February 1994|archive-date=20 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820121333/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/olympics1998/history/1994/articles/94-hockfin.htm|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Olympics/2006Turin/Hockey/2006/02/25/1462081-sun.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720202407/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Olympics/2006Turin/Hockey/2006/02/25/1462081-sun.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=20 July 2012|title=Medal for Mats|author=Simmons, Steve|newspaper=Toronto Sun|access-date=4 March 2009|year=2006}} Canada's final shooter Paul Kariya's shot was saved by Tommy Salo and Sweden won the game and its first gold medal.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-14.html Story #14–"Foppa" – The goal, the stamp & Sweden's first Olympic gold] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724210738/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-14.html|date=24 July 2008 }}.

File:Nagano 1998-Russia vs Czech Republic.jpg

In 1995, an agreement to allow NHL players to participate in Olympics was reached between the IOC, IIHF, NHL, and National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA). The format of the 1998 tournament was adjusted to accommodate the NHL's schedule. Canada, considered a pre-tournament favourite, was upset in the semi-final round by the Czech Republic and then lost the bronze medal game to Finland.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-12.html Story #12–Hasek thwarts all five Canadian gunners in epic shootout] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907012950/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-12.html|date=7 September 2008 }}. Led by goaltender Dominik Hašek, the Czech team defeated Russia, winning its first gold medal in the sport.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-10.html Story #10–Czech Republic wins first "open" Olympics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213014110/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-10.html|date=13 December 2014 }}. Following the tournament, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman commented that it "was what we had predicted and hoped for from a pure hockey perspective, [it was] a wonderful tournament".{{cite magazine|title=Was It Worth It?|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/1998/weekly/980302/worthit.html|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=4 March 2009|date=25 February 1998|author=Farber, Michael|archive-date=5 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205213217/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/1998/weekly/980302/worthit.html|url-status=dead}}

File:TeemuSelanne2010WinterOlympics.jpg of Finland is the all-time leading scorer in the men's tournament.]]

The next tournament format was hosted in Salt Lake City, United States. Finnish centre Raimo Helminen became the first ice hockey player to compete in six tournaments. In the quarter-finals, Belarus defeated Sweden in one of the biggest upsets since the Miracle on Ice.{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/ice_hockey/news/2002/02/20/sweden_belarus_ap/|title=Salt Lake stunner|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=20 February 2002|access-date=4 March 2009|archive-date=13 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113131837/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/ice_hockey/news/2002/02/20/sweden_belarus_ap/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/winterolympics2002/hi/english/ice_hockey/newsid_1830000/1830687.stm|title=Belarus pull off huge upset|date=21 February 2002|work=BBC Sports|access-date=4 March 2009|archive-date=15 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015211345/http://news.bbc.co.uk/winterolympics2002/hi/english/ice_hockey/newsid_1830000/1830687.stm|url-status=live}} The team lost to Canada 7–1 in the semi-final and Russia 7–2 in the bronze medal game, respectively.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-28.html Story #28–Vladimir Kopat bounces Sweden from the 2002 Olympics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827172135/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-28.html|date=27 August 2008 }}. The Canadian team rebounded from a disappointing first round and defeated the American team (who eliminated Russia 3–2 in the semi-final) in the gold medal game, winning their first gold medal in 50 years and seventh in men's hockey overall.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-11.html Story #11–Canada wins Olympic gold for first time in 50 years] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827174307/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-11.html|date=27 August 2008 }}.

The tournament format was adjusted for 2006. In the semi-finals, Sweden defeated the Czech Republic 7–3, and Finland beat Russia 4–0. Sweden won the gold medal defeating Finland 3–2 and the Czech Republic won the bronze medal. Three months later, Sweden won the 2006 World Championships and became the first team to win the Olympic and World Championship gold in the same year.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-8.html Story #8–Sweden's unique double, Olympics & Worlds] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007141626/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-8.html|date=7 October 2008 }}. Allegations have surfaced of Sweden throwing a game against Slovakia so the Swedes would face Switzerland in the quarterfinals instead of Canada or the Czech Republic. Shortly before the game, Sweden coach Bengt-Åke Gustafsson was reported to have publicly contemplated tanking in order to avoid those teams, saying about Canada and the Czechs, "One is cholera, the other the plague."{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2006/03/06/8371329/swede-success|last=Farber|first=Michael|date=6 March 2006|title=Swede Success|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924185642/http://www.si.com/vault/2006/03/06/8371329/swede-success|url-status=live }}

File:Canada2010WinterOlympicsOTcelebration.jpg's gold medal-winning overtime goal at the 2010 Winter Olympics.]]

The 2010 Winter Olympics were held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the first time since NHL players started competing that the Olympics were held in a city with an NHL team. Teemu Selänne of Finland scored his 37th point, breaking the record of 36 first set by Canadian Harry Watson in 1924 and later tied by Vlastimil Bubník of Czechoslovakia, and Valeri Kharlamov of the Soviet Union. Slovakia made the final four for the first time, but lost the bronze medal game to Finland 3–5.{{cite news|title=Finland defeats Slovakia to capture hockey bronze|url=https://www.tsn.ca/story/?id=311878|publisher=The Sports Network|date=28 February 2010|access-date=24 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629080415/http://www.tsn.ca/story/?id=311878|archive-date=29 June 2011|url-status=dead}} In the gold medal game, Canada and the United States ended regulation play with a 2–2 tie, making it only the second Olympic gold medal match to go into overtime. Canadian player Sidney Crosby scored the winning goal 7:40 into overtime play to give Canada its eighth gold medal in men's hockey.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/olympics/2010/sports/icehockey/article/773027--canada-beats-u-s-in-ot-for-hockey-gold|work=Toronto Star|date=28 February 2010|access-date=28 February 2010|title=Canada beats U.S. in OT for hockey gold|author=Byers, Jim|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019234631/https://www.thestar.com/sports/olympics/2010/02/28/sidney_crosby_lifts_canada_to_olympic_hockey_gold.html|url-status=live}}

The 2014 Winter Olympics were held in Sochi, Russia, and retained the same game format used in Vancouver 2010, while returning to the larger international-sized ice rinks.{{cite news|url=http://sochi2014.iihf.com/men/information/|access-date=22 February 2014|title=Tournament Format|archive-date=11 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211224802/http://sochi2014.iihf.com/men/information/|url-status=live}} Slovenia participated for the first time, upsetting Slovakia in the round-robin before losing to Sweden in the quarterfinals 0–5, for its best finish in any international tournament.{{cite news|url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/recap/8530.html?tx_ttnews[backPid]=244&cHash=d57bc8bcc9/|date=18 February 2014|access-date=22 February 2014|title=Looking for history|author=Martin Merk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225013416/http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/recap/8530.html?tx_ttnews[backPid]=244&cHash=d57bc8bcc9|archive-date=25 February 2014}} Latvia upset Switzerland 3–1 in the qualification playoffs, also making it to the Olympic quarterfinals for the first time, where they were narrowly defeated by Canada 2–1.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/ted-nolan-has-latvian-players-believing-in-themselves/article16954824/|date=19 February 2014|access-date=22 February 2014|title=Ted Nolan has Latvian players believing in themselves|author=ROY MACGREGOR|archive-date=16 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416074945/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/ted-nolan-has-latvian-players-believing-in-themselves/article16954824/|url-status=live}} Host nation Russia, considered a pre-tournament favourite, lost 3–1 in the quarterfinals to Finland and finished fifth.{{cite news|url=http://olympics.cbc.ca/news/article/russians-dejected-after-olympic-hockey-loss-finland.html/|date=19 February 2014|access-date=22 February 2014|title=Russians dejected after Olympic hockey loss to Finland|author=Rod Perry|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223154227/http://olympics.cbc.ca/news/article/russians-dejected-after-olympic-hockey-loss-finland.html|archive-date=23 February 2014}} Entering the semi-finals undefeated after outscoring opponents 20–6, the United States lost to Canada 0–1, then lost the bronze medal game against Finland 0–5. Teemu Selänne scored six more points in the tournament, was named tournament MVP and boosted his modern-era Olympic career record for points to 43 (24 goals, 19 assists). At the age of 43, he also set records as both the oldest Olympic goal-scorer and oldest Olympic ice hockey medal winner.{{cite news|url=http://sochi2014.iihf.com/men/news/usa-fin-bronze-medal-game-recap/|date=22 February 2014|access-date=22 February 2014|title=Fine Finnish for Selanne|author=Lucas Aykroyd|archive-date=23 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223154741/http://sochi2014.iihf.com/men/news/usa-fin-bronze-medal-game-recap/|url-status=live}} Canada defeated Sweden 3–0 to win its ninth Olympic gold medal. The team did not trail at any point over the course of the tournament, and became the first back-to-back gold medal winner since the start of NHL participation in 1998, as well as the first team to go undefeated since 1984.{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=444472/|date=23 February 2014|access-date=23 February 2014|title=Canada defeats Sweden to defend Gold in Olympic Men's Hockey|publisher=The Sports Network|agency=The Canadian Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227083534/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=444472%2F|archive-date=27 February 2014|url-status=dead}}

The Olympic ice hockey tournament in PyeongChang in 2018 was held without participation of NHL players for the first time since the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. The favorites to win the gold medal were the Russians due to their domestic league, the KHL, taking an Olympic break and allowing such stars as Pavel Datsyuk and Ilya Kovalchuk to play on the team.{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2018/2/7/16986816/2018-winter-olympics-odds-hockey-russia-usa-canada|title=Russian team leads final 2018 Winter Olympic men's hockey gold medal odds|author=Mary Clarke|date=7 February 2018|publisher=SBNation.com|access-date=3 September 2018|archive-date=21 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421150120/https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2018/2/7/16986816/2018-winter-olympics-odds-hockey-russia-usa-canada|url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/winter-olympics-gold-medal-favorites-pyeongchang-2018-2?IR=T#hockey-14|title=Here are the gold-medal favorites for every single event at the Winter Olympics|author=Tyler Lauletta|date=8 February 2018|website=Business Insider|access-date=3 September 2018|archive-date=21 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421144248/http://www.businessinsider.com/winter-olympics-gold-medal-favorites-pyeongchang-2018-2?IR=T#hockey-14|url-status=live }} As a consequence of a doping scandal, the IOC banned the Russian federation, but allowed Russian athletes to compete under the Olympic flag after passing anti-doping tests.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/russia-banned-from-2018-olympics-following-doping-allegations/2017/12/05/9ab49790-d9d4-11e7-b859-fb0995360725_story.html?noredirect=on|title=Russia banned from 2018 Olympics for widespread doping program|author=Will Hobson|date=15 December 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=3 September 2018|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019234543/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/russia-banned-from-2018-olympics-following-doping-allegations/2017/12/05/9ab49790-d9d4-11e7-b859-fb0995360725_story.html?noredirect=on|url-status=live }} The final was played between the Germans, who unexpectedly eliminated the Canadians in the semi-final,{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/02/23/woe-canada-germany-stuns-world-ice-hockey-power-at-pyeongchang-olympics/?noredirect=on|title=Woe, Canada? Germany stuns hockey power at PyeongChang Olympics|author=Matt Bonesteel|date=23 February 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=3 September 2018|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019234559/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/02/23/woe-canada-germany-stuns-world-ice-hockey-power-at-pyeongchang-olympics/?noredirect=on|url-status=live }} and the Olympic Athletes from Russia. In the final, the Russians prevailed, defeating Germany 4–3, and won the gold medal after Kirill Kaprizov scored the winning goal in overtime. The Russian players sang the banned anthem during the medal ceremony, but the IOC decided not to pursue any action.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2018-iceh-m-oar-ger/olympics-ice-hockey-russians-sing-banned-anthem-after-beating-germany-to-gold-idUSKCN1G905K|title=Olympics: Ice Hockey – Russians sing banned anthem after beating Germany to gold|author=Dan Burns, Steve Keating|date=25 February 2018|work=Reuters|access-date=3 September 2018|archive-date=1 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501004752/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2018-iceh-m-oar-ger/olympics-ice-hockey-russians-sing-banned-anthem-after-beating-germany-to-gold-idUSKCN1G905K|url-status=live }} Canada won the bronze medal over the Czech Republic 6–4.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2018-iceh-m-cze-can/ice-hockey-canadian-men-beat-czechs-to-claim-bronze-idUSKCN1G80MG|title=Ice hockey: Canadian men beat Czechs to claim bronze|author=Dan Burns|date=24 February 2018|work=Reuters|access-date=3 September 2018|archive-date=30 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430124655/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2018-iceh-m-cze-can/ice-hockey-canadian-men-beat-czechs-to-claim-bronze-idUSKCN1G80MG|url-status=live }}

Although NHL players were originally planned to participate in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the league and the NHL Players' Association announced on 21 December 2021, that they would be pulling out of the tournament, citing the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|date=22 December 2021|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-nhlpa-withdraws-from-beijing-2022-winter-olympics-1.6294937|title=NHL officially announces players won't attend Beijing Olympics|website=CBC sports|access-date=22 December 2021|archive-date=22 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222172158/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-nhlpa-withdraws-from-beijing-2022-winter-olympics-1.6294937|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/32918026/sources-nhl-not-going-olympics-due-covid|title=NHL skipping Olympics because of COVID surge|date=21 December 2021|website=ESPN.com|access-date=22 December 2021|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221195437/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/32918026/sources-nhl-not-going-olympics-due-covid|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl-won-t-attend-beijing-games-1.1738020|title=NHL won't attend Beijing Games, NHLPA expecting to 'return to the Olympics in 2026' - TSN.ca|date=22 December 2021|website=TSN|access-date=22 December 2021|archive-date=22 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222172159/https://www.tsn.ca/nhl-won-t-attend-beijing-games-1.1738020|url-status=live}} Finland won their first ever ice hockey gold medal after going undefeated and beating the Russian Olympic Committee in the final. Slovakia claimed their first ever bronze medal after defeating Sweden 4–0.{{cite web|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2022/olympic-m/news/32222/slovakia_wins_first_ever_olympic_medal|title=Slovakia wins first ever Olympic medal|publisher=iihf.com|access-date=19 February 2022|archive-date=22 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322110132/https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2022/olympic-m/news/32222/slovakia_wins_first_ever_olympic_medal|url-status=live}} For the first time in history, the Czech Republic did not qualify for the quarter-finals and finished in ninth place, their lowest placement in history.{{cite web|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2022/olympic-m/news/32116/cze_sui|title=Swiss avenge group stage loss, advance to QF|publisher=iihf.com|access-date=15 February 2022|archive-date=15 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215111934/https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2022/olympic-m/news/32116/cze_sui|url-status=live}}

File:Hayley Wickenheiser cropped.jpg is the all-time leading scorer in the women's tournament{{cite news|title=Wickenheiser signs with Swedish men's club|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/wickenheiser-signs-with-swedish-men-s-club-1.768070|publisher=CBC Sports|access-date=1 March 2009|date=22 July 2008|agency=The Canadian Press|archive-date=3 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903111659/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2008/07/22/wickenheiser-sweden.html|url-status=live}} and was named tournament MVP twice.{{cite magazine|title=Canada's leading star|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/olympics/2006/writers/02/20/wickenheiser/index.html|author=Yi-Wyn Yen|date=20 February 2008|access-date=1 March 2009|magazine=Sports Illustrated|archive-date=24 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024152139/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/olympics/2006/writers/02/20/wickenheiser/index.html|url-status=dead}}]]

At the 99th IOC Session in July 1992, the IOC voted to approve women's hockey as an Olympic event beginning with the 1998 Winter Olympics as part of their effort to increase the number of female athletes at the Olympics.{{Cite news|title=Canadians cheer new Olympic sports|work=Waterloo Region Record|location=Kitchener, Ontario|date=27 July 1992|agency=The Canadian Press|page=27|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/waterloo-region-record-1998-winter-olymp/171076956/}} Women's ice hockey had not been in the programme when Nagano, Japan had won the right to host the Olympics in June 1991, and the decision required approval by the Nagano Winter Olympic Organizing Committee (NAOOC). The NAOOC was initially hesitant to include the event because of the additional costs of staging the tournament and because they felt their team, which had failed to qualify for that year's World Championships, could not be competitive. According to Glynis Peters, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association's (CAHA) head of female hockey, "the Japanese would have to finance an entirely new sports operation to bring their team up to Olympic standards in six years, which they were also really reluctant to do." In November 1992, the NWOOC and IOC Coordination Committee reached an agreement to include a women's ice hockey tournament in the programme.{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE0DF1431F93AA15752C1A964958260|title=An Agreement By Nagano Games|date=29 November 1992|access-date=17 February 2009|work=The New York Times|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019234549/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/29/sports/an-agreement-by-nagano-games.html|url-status=live}} Part of the agreement was that the tournament would be limited to six teams, and no additional facilities would be built. The CAHA also agreed to help build and train the Japanese team so that it could be more competitive.{{Cite news|title=Women 's hockey gets approval for '98|work=Toronto Star|author=Ormsby, Mary|date=18 November 1992}} The IOC had agreed that if the NAOOC had not approved the event, it would be held at the 2002 Winter Olympics. The format of the first tournament was similar to the men's: preliminary round-robin games followed by a medal round playoff.{{Cite web|title=Ice Hockey at the 2006 Torino Winter Games: Women's Ice Hockey|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/winter/2006/ICH/womens-ice-hockey.html|publisher=sports-reference.com|access-date=4 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407031947/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/winter/2006/ICH/womens-ice-hockey.html|archive-date=7 April 2009 }}

Before 1998, women's hockey had been dominated by Canada. Canadian teams had won every World Championship up to that point; however, by 1997, the American team had improved and was evenly matched with Canada. In thirteen games played between the two teams in 1997, Canada won seven and the United States won six. The 1998 Olympic tournament also included teams from Finland, Sweden, China and host Japan. Canada and the United States dominated the round-robin portion. In their head-to-head match, the United States overcame a 4–1 deficit to win 7–4.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fieldday.com/cbc/olympics/sports/hockey/womens-history/index.html|title=Women's Hockey History|publisher=CBC Sports|access-date=17 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903120552/http://www.fieldday.com/cbc/olympics/sports/hockey/womens-history/index.html|archive-date=3 September 2009 }} The two teams met in the final, which the United States won 3–1 to become the third American ice hockey team to win Olympic gold. Finland defeated China 4–1 to win the bronze medal.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-33.html Story #33–Women's hockey enters Olympics—USA hands Canada first loss] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524040902/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-33.html|date=24 May 2008 }}.

File:SwedenUSAwomenshockey2002.jpg and the United States in 2002]]

For the 2002 Winter Olympics, the number of teams was increased to eight with Russia, Germany and Kazakhstan qualifying for the first time.{{Cite journal|url=http://www.iihf.com/fileadmin/user_upload/PDF/The_IIHF/IIHF_News_Release_Olympia.pdf|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation|journal=Ice Times|title=And the winner is ... Hockey!|date=March 2002|editor=Edvinsson, Jan-Ake|access-date=7 April 2009|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192435/http://www.iihf.com/fileadmin/user_upload/PDF/The_IIHF/IIHF_News_Release_Olympia.pdf|url-status=live}} The Canadian and American teams went undefeated in the first round and semi-finals, setting up a gold medal rematch that the Canadian team won 3–2.{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/ice_hockey/news/2002/02/13/womensicehockey_standings/|title=Women's Olympic Ice Hockey Standings|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=7 April 2009|year=2002|archive-date=9 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109004522/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/ice_hockey/news/2002/02/13/womensicehockey_standings/|url-status=dead}} Following the game, members of the Canadian team accused the Americans of stomping on a Canadian flag in their dressing room, although an investigation later proved the rumour false.{{cite magazine|title=U.S. women's hockey team exonerated in flag dispute|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/ice_hockey/news/2002/02/25/flag_dispute_ap/|date=25 February 2002|access-date=7 April 2009|archive-date=17 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317055704/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/ice_hockey/news/2002/02/25/flag_dispute_ap/|url-status=dead}} The Swedish team won the bronze medal over Finland 2–1, the nation's first in women's ice hockey.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/winterolympics2002/low/english/ice_hockey/newsid_1839000/1839253.stm|work=BBC Sport|title=The big two dominate|date=24 February 2002|author=Crosse, Simon|access-date=6 April 2009|archive-date=16 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816104450/http://news.bbc.co.uk/winterolympics2002/low/english/ice_hockey/newsid_1839000/1839253.stm|url-status=live}}

In 2006, Sweden defeated the US in a shootout in the semi-finals, marking the first time the US had lost to an opponent other than Canada.{{cite magazine|title=Their own Miracle|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/olympics/2006/writers/02/17/womens.hockey/?cnn=yes|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=17 February 2006|access-date=1 March 2009|author=Yi-Wyn Yen|archive-date=26 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026072036/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/olympics/2006/writers/02/17/womens.hockey/?cnn=yes|url-status=dead}} The upset drew comparisons to the Miracle on Ice from 1980.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-35.html Story #35–Swedish "Mirakel" as USA bumped from Olympic gold-medal game] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829025052/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-35.html|date=29 August 2008 }}. In the medal games, Canada defeated Sweden 4–1 to claim its second consecutive gold medal, while the Americans beat Finland 4–0 to win the bronze.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/2.722/best-women-s-team-ever-1.625130|title=Best women's team ever?|date=23 February 2006|publisher=CBC Sports|access-date=1 March 2009|archive-date=3 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903114058/http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2006/02/20/women-hockey060220.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympics/2002813163_olyjudd19.html|title=Miracle whipped: A stunning changing of the guard in women's hockey|author=Judd, Ron|work=The Seattle Times|date=18 February 2006|access-date=2 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902165507/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympics/2002813163_olyjudd19.html|archive-date=2 September 2009}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/18/sports/olympics/18women.html|title=Competition Catches Up to U.S. Women|author=Crouse, Karen|date=18 February 2006|work=The New York Times|access-date=2 March 2009|archive-date=17 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417094943/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/18/sports/olympics/18women.html|url-status=live}}

In 2010, eight teams participated, including Slovakia for the first time.{{cite web|title=Women's Tournament Schedule Proposal|url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/olympics/olympics-women.html|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date=4 March 2009|archive-date=15 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915090744/http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/olympics/olympics-women.html|url-status=live}} In the gold medal game, Canada defeated the United States 2–0 to win their third consecutive gold. The Finnish team won the bronze medal over Sweden 3–2 OT, their first since 1998.{{Cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/Canada+brings+home+Olympic+gold+women+hockey/2613857/story.html|title=Canada brings home Olympic gold in women's hockey|work=The Vancouver Sun|date=25 February 2010|access-date=25 February 2010|archive-date=14 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214033449/http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Canada+brings+home+Olympic+gold+women+hockey/2613857/story.html|url-status=live |author1=Ewen }}

The future of international women's ice hockey was discussed at the World Hockey Summit in 2010, and dealt with how IIHF member associations could work together to grow the game and increase registration numbers, and the relative strength of the women's game in North America compared to the rest of the world.{{cite web|url=http://prohockeynews.com/summit-to-discuss-global-hockey-issues/|title=Summit to discuss global hockey issues|last=Money|first=Don|date=14 August 2020|website=Pro Hockey News|access-date=11 April 2020|archive-date=6 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406231231/https://prohockeynews.com/summit-to-discuss-global-hockey-issues/|url-status=live}} International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge raised concerns that the women's hockey tournament might be eliminated from the Olympics since the event was not competitively balanced and was dominated by Canada and the United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/hockey-summit-2/|title=World hockey summit arrives in Toronto|date=22 August 2010|work=Sportsnet|access-date=6 April 2020|archive-date=6 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406234205/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/hockey-summit-2/|url-status=live}} Team Canada captain Hayley Wickenheiser explained that the talent gap between the North American and European countries was due to the presence of women's professional leagues in North America, along with year-round training facilities. She stated the European players were talented, but their respective national team programs were not given the same level of support as the European men's national teams, or the North American women's national teams.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/ottawa-citizen/20100602/284094907734426|title=Time for another hockey summit has come, writes Wayne Scanlan|last=Scanlan|first=Wayne|date=2 June 2010|work=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=6 April 2020|via=Press Reader|archive-date=6 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406231200/https://www.pressreader.com/canada/ottawa-citizen/20100602/284094907734426|url-status=live}} She stressed the need for women to have their own professional league which would be for the benefit of international hockey. IIHF vice-president Murray Costello promised to invest $2-million towards developing international women's hockey.{{cite book|last=McKinley|first=Michael|title=It's Our Game: Celebrating 100 Years Of Hockey Canada|publisher=Viking|date=2014|location=Toronto, Ontario|isbn=978-0-670-06817-3|pages=381–382}}

File:Швейцария Женская сборная 2014.JPG team celebrates shortly after winning the bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics. It was the first medal for the country in women's hockey.]]

At the 2014 Winter Olympics, Canada defeated the United States 3–2, as Marie-Philip Poulin scored at 8:10 of overtime to win their fourth consecutive gold, rebounding from a two-nothing deficit late in the game. With the win, Canadians Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Hefford and Caroline Ouellette became the first athletes to win four ice hockey gold medals. They also joined Soviet biathlete Alexander Tikhonov and German speedskater Claudia Pechstein as the only athletes to win gold medals in four straight Winter Olympics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/story/?id=444282|title=Poulin scores OT winner, Canada wins gold over U.S.|publisher=The Sports Network|date=20 February 2014|access-date=20 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221073707/http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/story/?id=444282|archive-date=21 February 2014|url-status=dead}} In the bronze medal game Switzerland beat Sweden 4–3 to win their first women's medal.{{Cite web|title=Swiss women rally to beat Sweden for hockey bronze|url=https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/story/?id=444276|publisher=The Sports Network|date=20 February 2014|access-date=20 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220162640/http://www.tsn.ca/olympics/story/?id=444276|archive-date=20 February 2014|url-status=dead}}

In 2018, the United States defeated Canada for the gold medal in a shootout, winning 3–2. The Americans' winning the gold medal game marks the first time in 20 years that the United States took home a gold medal in women's hockey. They previously won in 1998 in Nagano, Japan, which was also against Canada.{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/us-womens-hockey-team-finally-gold-dramatic-final/story?id=53270112|title=US women's hockey team finally gets gold in dramatic final against rival Canada|date=22 February 2018|publisher=ABC News|first=Karyn|last=Rodus|access-date=22 February 2018|archive-date=23 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223002129/http://abcnews.go.com/International/us-womens-hockey-team-finally-gold-dramatic-final/story?id=53270112|url-status=live }} Canada's loss effectively ended their winning streak of four consecutive winter games, having won since 2002.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/winter-olympics-2018/2018/02/22/usa-canada-womens-hockey-gold-medal-game/361949002/|title=U.S. women end Canada's streak to win hockey gold in shootout at 2018 Winter Olympics|website=USA Today|language=en|access-date=22 February 2018|archive-date=22 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122045944/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/winter-olympics-2018/2018/02/22/usa-canada-womens-hockey-gold-medal-game/361949002/|url-status=live}}

The 2022 edition was played with ten teams for the first time.{{Cite web|title=More women's teams at Olympics|url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=12861&cHash=0c737eace02762f9084a8fbf5266dfc6|publisher=iihf.com|date=22 July 2018|access-date=22 July 2018|archive-date=23 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723003936/http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=12861&cHash=0c737eace02762f9084a8fbf5266dfc6|url-status=live}} Canada won their fifth gold medal, defeating the United States in the final 3–2.{{cite web|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2022/olympic-w/news/32173/can-usa-gmg|title=Poulin leads Canada to gold again|publisher=iihf.com|access-date=17 February 2022|archive-date=16 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316210637/https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2022/olympic-w/news/32173/can-usa-gmg|url-status=live}} Finland defeated Switzerland 4–0 for the bronze medal.{{cite web|last=Tennery|first=Amy|title=Ice hockey—Finland outclass Switzerland to win women's bronze|publisher=Reuters|date=16 February 2022|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/ice-hockey-finland-outclass-switzerland-win-bronze-2022-02-16/|access-date=24 July 2022|archive-date=24 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724184924/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/ice-hockey-finland-outclass-switzerland-win-bronze-2022-02-16/|url-status=live}} The final standings were a repeat of the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship.{{Cite web |url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2021/ww/news/28008/gmg |title=Poulin scores golden goal |access-date=11 March 2023 |archive-date=1 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901050047/https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2021/ww/news/28008/gmg |url-status=live }}

Since 1976, 12 teams have participated in the men's tournament, except in 1998 and 2002, when the number was raised to 14. The number of teams has ranged from 4 (in 1932) to 16 (in 1964). After the NHL allowed its players to compete at the 1998 Winter Olympics, the "Big Six" teams (Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden and the United States) were given automatic qualification and byes to the final round.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-7.html Story #7–NHL takes break and releases players for 1998 Olympics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007141621/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-7.html|date=7 October 2008 }}. The number of teams was increased to 14 so that a preliminary round-robin tournament consisting of eight teams could be held. The top two teams from the preliminary round (Belarus and Kazakhstan) joined the "Big Six" in the finals. A similar system was used in 2002.{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9800E7D6103CF932A25751C0A9649C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1|title=Olympics: Hockey; N.H.L. and Its Teams Send Players to Bench|author=Lapointe, Joe|work=The New York Times|date=11 February 2002|access-date=1 March 2009|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019234619/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/11/sports/olympics-hockey-nhl-and-its-teams-send-players-to-bench.html|url-status=live}} For the following tournament, the number of teams was lowered to 12 so that all teams played fewer games.{{Cite web|title=Ice Hockey at the 2006 Torino Winter Games: Men's Ice Hockey|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/winter/2006/ICH/mens-ice-hockey.html|publisher=sports-reference.com|access-date=1 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327175155/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/winter/2006/ICH/mens-ice-hockey.html|archive-date=27 March 2009 }} Qualification for the men's tournament at the 2010 Winter Olympics was structured around the 2008 IIHF World Ranking. Twelve spots were made available for teams. The top nine teams in the World Ranking after the 2008 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships received automatic berths. Teams ranked 19th through 30th played in a first qualification round in November 2008. The top three teams from the round advanced to the second qualification round, joined by teams ranked 10th through 18th. The top three teams from this round advanced to the Olympic tournament.{{cite web|title=Men's tournament programme & schedules|url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/olympics/olympics-men.html|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date=4 March 2009|archive-date=19 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419193957/http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/olympics/olympics-men.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=266366|title=Germany, Norway round out 2010 Olympic men's hockey|publisher=TSN|date=8 February 2009|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213123305/http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=266366|archive-date=13 February 2009|url-status=dead}}

The women's tournament uses a similar qualification format. The top six teams in the IIHF Women's World Ranking after the 2008 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships received automatic berths. Teams ranked 13th and below were divided into two groups for a first qualification round in September 2008. The two group winners advanced to the second qualification round, where the teams ranked seventh through twelfth joined them.{{Cite web|title=Women's Tournament Program|url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/olympics/olympics-women/tournament-program.html|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date=4 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225174514/http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/olympics/olympics-women/tournament-program.html|archive-date=25 February 2009 }}

The IIHF lists the following requirements for a player to be eligible to play in international tournaments:{{Cite web|title=IIHF Eligibility|url=http://www.iihf.com/en/home-of-hockey/championships/iihf-eligibility.html|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date=11 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427153324/http://www.iihf.com/en/home-of-hockey/championships/iihf-eligibility.html|archive-date=27 April 2009 }}

• "Each player must be under the jurisdiction of an IIHF member national association."
• "Each player must be a citizen of the country he/she represents."

If a player who has never played in an IIHF competition changes their citizenship, they must participate in national competitions in their new country for at least two consecutive years and have an international transfer card (ITC). If a player who has previously played in an IIHF tournament wishes to change their national team, they must have played in their new country for four years. A player can only do this once. The original IOC rules stated that an athlete that had already played for one nation could not later change nations under any circumstances.

File:Baron Pierre de Coubertin.jpg, founder of the IOC]]

Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the IOC, was influenced by the ethos of the aristocracy as exemplified in the English public schools.{{cite book|last=Eassom|first=Simon|title=Critical Reflections on Olympic Ideology|year=1994|location=Ontario|publisher=The Centre for Olympic Studies|pages=120–123|isbn=0-7714-1697-0}} The public schools subscribed to the belief that sport formed an important part of education and there was a prevailing concept of fairness in which practicing or training was considered cheating. As class structure evolved through the 20th century, the definition of the amateur athlete as an aristocratic gentleman became outdated. The advent of the state-sponsored "full-time amateur athlete" of the Eastern Bloc countries further eroded the ideology of the pure amateur, as it put the self-financed amateurs of the Western countries at a disadvantage. The Soviet Union entered teams of athletes who were all nominally students, soldiers, or working in a profession, but many of whom were in reality paid by the state to train on a full-time basis. Nevertheless, the IOC held to the traditional rules regarding amateurism until 1988.

File:1998 Winter Olympics medals.JPG on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame]]

Near the end of the 1960s, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) felt their amateur players could no longer be competitive against the Soviet team's full-time athletes and the other constantly improving European teams. They pushed for the ability to use players from professional leagues but met opposition from the IIHF and IOC. At the IIHF Congress in 1969, the IIHF decided to allow Canada to use nine non-NHL professional hockey players{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-17.html Story #17–Protesting amateur rules, Canada leaves international hockey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227214712/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-17.html|date=27 February 2018 }}. at the 1970 World Championships in Montreal and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-40.html Story #40–Finally, Canada to host the World Championship] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010210250/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-40.html|date=10 October 2017 }}. The decision was reversed in January 1970 after IOC President Brundage said that ice hockey's status as an Olympic sport would be in jeopardy if the change was made. In response, Canada withdrew from international ice hockey competition and officials stated that they would not return until "open competition" was instituted.{{cite news|title=Summit Series '72 Summary|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame|url=http://www.hhof.com/html/GamesSummarySUM1972.shtml|access-date=2 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807130920/http://www.hhof.com/html/GamesSummarySUM1972.shtml|archive-date=7 August 2008 }} Günther Sabetzki became president of the IIHF in 1975 and helped to resolve the dispute with the CAHA. In 1976, the IIHF agreed to allow "open competition" between all players in the World Championships. However, NHL players were still not allowed to play in the Olympics, because of the unwillingness of the NHL to take a break mid-season and the IOC's amateur-only policy.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-6.html Story #6–First Canada Cup opens up the hockey world] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807073011/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-6.html|date=7 August 2017 }}.

Before the 1984 Winter Olympics, a dispute formed over what made a player a professional. The IOC had adopted a rule that made any player who had signed an NHL contract but played less than ten games in the league eligible. However, the United States Olympic Committee maintained that any player contracted with an NHL team was a professional and therefore not eligible to play. The IOC held an emergency meeting that ruled NHL-contracted players were eligible, as long as they had not played in any NHL games.{{harvnb|Podnieks|1997|pp=147–158}} This made five players on Olympic rosters—one Austrian, two Italians and two Canadians—ineligible. Players who had played in other professional leagues—such as the World Hockey Association—were allowed to play. Canadian hockey official Alan Eagleson stated that the rule was only applied to the NHL and that professionally contracted players in European leagues were still considered amateurs.{{Cite news|title=Eagleson upset over hockey dispute|work=The New York Times|author=Litsky, Frank|date=25 January 1984}} Murray Costello of the CAHA suggested that a Canadian withdrawal was possible.{{Cite news|title=Canada considers hockey withdrawal|work=The New York Times|date=5 February 1984}} In 1986, the IOC voted to allow all athletes to compete in the Olympic Games starting in 1988.{{Cite news|title=Players in NHL are now eligible in the Olympics|work=Toronto Star|author=Monsebraaten, Laurie|date=15 October 1986}}{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/olympics/owg98/osytr01.htm|title=Amateurism|date=12 July 1999|work=USA Today|access-date=3 March 2009|archive-date=23 February 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020223021004/http://www.usatoday.com/olympics/owg98/osytr01.htm|url-status=live}}

File:Finlande Russie.jpg of Finland and Pavel Datsyuk of Russia face off in a semi-final game at the 2006 Winter Olympics.]]

The NHL decided not to allow all players to participate in 1988, 1992, 1994, 2018, and 2022 because the Winter Olympics typically occur in February, during the league's regular season. To allow participation, the NHL would have been forced to take a break in its schedule.{{cite news|title=Aiding U.S. Olympic Team May Bring Gold to N.H.L., Too|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/06/sports/aiding-us-olympic-team-may-bring-gold-to-nhl-too.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm|last=Dryden|first=Ken|access-date=15 March 2009|date=6 March 1988|newspaper=The New York Times|author-link=Ken Dryden|archive-date=16 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916225608/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/06/sports/aiding-us-olympic-team-may-bring-gold-to-nhl-too.html?pagewanted=print&src=pm|url-status=live}}

In 1992, National Basketball Association (NBA) players participated in the 1992 Summer Olympics. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman (an NBA executive in 1992) commented that the "[NBA]'s worldwide awareness grew dramatically". He hoped that NHL participation would "get exposure like the world has never seen for hockey". The typical NBA season is held in the winter and spring, so the Summer Olympics do not conflict with the regular season schedule. Bettman "floated a concept of moving hockey to the Summer Games", but this was rejected because of the Olympic Charter. In March 1995, Bettman, René Fasel, IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch and NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow met in Geneva, Switzerland. They reached an agreement that allowed NHL players to participate in the Olympics, starting with the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan.{{cite news|title=The N.H.L.'s Olympic Gamble; Stars' Participation in Nagano Could Raise Sport's Profile|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901EFD91438F935A2575AC0A961958260&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FSubjects%2FO%2FOlympic%20Games|author=Lapointe, Joe|work=The New York Times|date=16 September 1997|access-date=17 February 2009|archive-date=11 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811140323/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/16/sports/hockey-nhl-s-olympic-gamble-stars-participation-nagano-could-raise-sport-s.html|url-status=live}} The deal was officially announced by the NHL on 2 October 1995. Bettman said: "We're doing this to build the game of hockey, pure and simple, we think whatever benefits are recouped, it will end up making this game bigger, stronger and healthier."{{Cite news|title=NHL makes peace with union and sets up Olympic 'Dream Tourney'|work=Rocky Mountain News|agency=Associated Press|date=3 October 1995}}{{Cite web|title=Blame must be shared for Slovakia's collapse|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/2002GamesHockeyFeb02/0212_bla-sun.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115142653/http://slam.canoe.ca/2002GamesHockeyFeb02/0212_bla-sun.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=15 January 2013|author=Garrioch, Bruce|work=Slam! Olympics|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|date=12 February 2002|access-date=1 March 2009}}

The 2004–05 NHL season was locked out and eventually cancelled because of a labour dispute between the league and its players. In January 2005, Bettman commented that he was hesitant to allow league participation in the Olympics because he did not like the idea of stopping play mid-season after the cancellation of the previous season.{{Cite web|title=IIHF not giving up on NHLers in Turin|date=3 January 2005|publisher=The Sports Network|url=https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/story/?id=109955&hubname=olympics|agency=The Canadian Press|access-date=8 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903094352/http://www.tsn.ca/olympics/story/?id=109955&hubname=olympics|archive-date=3 September 2009|url-status=dead}} The lockout was resolved in July 2005 and the newly negotiated NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement allowed league participation in the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics.{{Cite web|title=2010 Olympics needs to ratify deal IIHF|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Olympics/2010Vancouver/2005/07/22/1143772-cp.html|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|author=LeBrun, Pierre|date=22 July 2005|access-date=8 March 2009|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090903083451/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Olympics/2010Vancouver/2005/07/22/1143772-cp.html|archive-date=3 September 2009 }} Some NHL team owners were against their players participating in the tournament because of concerns about injury or exhaustion. Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider commented that "I'm a believer in the Olympics and I think it's good for the NHL to participate, having said that, the people who participate should be the ones who are absolutely healthy."{{Cite news|title=Some owners cool to Olympic flame|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Olympics/2006Turin/Hockey/2006/02/04/1426019-sun.html|newspaper=Toronto Sun|author=Hornby, Lance|year=2006|access-date=1 March 2009|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|archive-date=16 August 2012|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120816044811/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Olympics/2006Turin/Hockey/2006/02/04/1426019%2Dsun.html|url-status=usurped}} Some NHL players used the break as an opportunity to rest and did not participate in the tournament,{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/2.722/fasel-angry-at-absent-nhlers-1.601867|title=Fasel angry at absent NHLers|date=12 February 2006|access-date=1 March 2009|publisher=CBC Sports|archive-date=3 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903112251/http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2006/02/11/fasel-kiprusoff060211.html|url-status=live}} and several players were injured during the Olympics and were forced to miss NHL games. Bettman said that several format changes were being discussed so that the tournament would be "a little easier for everybody".{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=156076&hubname=nhl|title=Hockey changes likely for 2010 games|publisher=The Sports Network|date=24 February 2006|access-date=1 March 2009|agency=The Canadian Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903094819/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=156076&hubname=nhl|archive-date=3 September 2009|url-status=dead}}

File:AlexanderOvechkin2010WinterOlympicslineup.jpg in Russia, a number of Russian NHL players, including Alexander Ovechkin, stated that they would play in the tournament with or without the NHL's approval.]]

It was originally thought that for NHL participating in the 2014 Winter Olympics a deal would have to be negotiated between the NHL and NHLPA in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=3614334|title=Kelly: As many as eight teams could open next season in Europe|author=Burnside, Scott|publisher=ESPN|access-date=1 March 2009|date=28 September 2008|archive-date=25 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125025937/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3614334|url-status=live}} In January 2013, the NHL and NHLPA agreed on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=412844|title=NHL and NHLPA reach deal on Collective Bargaining Agreement|publisher=The Sports Network|date=6 January 2013|access-date=6 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106041754/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=412844|archive-date=6 January 2013|url-status=dead}} However, the decision on NHL participation at the Olympics was later announced on 19 July 2013. As part of the deal, the NHL will go on break for 17 days during the Olympics and will send 13 on-ice officials to help with the Games.{{Cite web|title=Deal reached to send NHL players to 2014 Winter Olympics|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=427999|date=19 July 2013|publisher=The Sports Network|access-date=20 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721233910/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=427999|archive-date=21 July 2013|url-status=dead}} NHL management was hesitant to commit to the tournament; Bettman argued the Olympic break is a "strain on the players, on the schedule and on fans", adding that "the benefits we get tend to be greater when the Olympics are in North America than when they're in distant time zones."{{cite news|title=NHL may skip Olympics after 2010|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl-may-skip-olympics-after-2010-1.667589?ref=rss|publisher=CBC Sports|date=28 November 2007|access-date=19 March 2009|archive-date=19 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119134828/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2007/11/28/bettman-olympics.html?ref=rss|url-status=live}} According to Bettman, most of the NHL team owners agree with his position, and feel that the league does not receive enough benefits to justify the schedule break and risk of player injuries. René Fasel wants NHL participation and vowed that he would "work day and night to have NHL players in Sochi".{{Cite web|title=Bettman and Fasel face off|url=http://www.ctvolympics.ca/hockey/news/newsid=7810.html#bettman+fasel+face|publisher=CTV Olympics|access-date=6 April 2009|date=27 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303141350/http://www.ctvolympics.ca/hockey/news/newsid%3D7810.html|archive-date=3 March 2010|url-status=dead }}

At an October 2008 press conference, then-NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly stated that the players want to return to the Olympics and would try to include the ability in the next agreement.{{Cite web|title=Sens' owner convinced of European expansion, Bettman skeptical|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=3627230|publisher=ESPN|access-date=29 May 2009|date=5 October 2008|author=LeBrun, Pierre|archive-date=11 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111061200/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3627230|url-status=live}} Russian NHL players Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin stated that they want to participate in the tournament and would do so without the permission of the NHL, if necessary.{{Cite web|title=To play or not to play|work=CTVOlympics.ca|publisher=Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium|url=http://www.ctvolympics.ca/hockey/news/newsid=16174.html?cid=rsstsn|date=23 September 2009|access-date=23 September 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926031537/http://www.ctvolympics.ca/hockey/news/newsid%3D16174.html?cid=rsstsn|archive-date=26 September 2009 }} Paul Kelly also believed that the NHL's strained relationship with the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) could affect participation. In a 2009 interview, KHL president Alexander Medvedev claimed that the unwillingness of NHL officials to immediately commit to the Sochi Games was "an instrument of pressure" to force a transfer agreement between the two leagues.{{cite news|title=K.H.L. Leader Chides N.H.L. On 2014 Games|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/sports/hockey/15slapshot.html|work=The New York Times|date=14 February 2009|access-date=19 March 2009|author1=Klein, Jeff Z.|author2=Hackel, Stu|archive-date=12 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812142559/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/sports/hockey/15slapshot.html|url-status=live}}

A major sticking point over NHL participation has been the insurance of players; for the 2014 Winter Olympics, the IOC paid around US$7 million to insure NHL players participating in the Games. In April 2016, the IOC announced that beginning in 2018, it would no longer cover accommodations, insurance, or travel for NHL players in the Olympics, prompting the IIHF to ask for support from national ice hockey associations and National Olympic Committees to help cover costs; Matti Nurminen of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association argued that it was the responsibility of the event's organizer to cover costs, and that "In our opinion, the same party should pay the bills, and that's not us. All the countries replied to the IIHF that they are not willing to pay for the insurance or the travel or any of the other expenses that are related to having the NHL players participate in Pyeongchang." The New York Times felt that the removal of this financial support would put NHL participation at Pyeongchang in jeopardy, noting the already-strenuous relationship between the NHL and the IOC; Gary Bettman noted that the NHL does not profit from their presence, adding that "in fact, we kind of disappear for two weeks because historically the IOC hasn't even let us join in promoting our participation in the Olympics."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/20/sports/hockey/olympics-and-nhl-face-off-over-who-pays-to-insure-players.html|title=Olympics and N.H.L. Face Off Over Who Pays to Insure Players|work=The New York Times|date=19 May 2016|access-date=21 May 2016|archive-date=24 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524061515/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/20/sports/hockey/olympics-and-nhl-face-off-over-who-pays-to-insure-players.html?_r=0|url-status=live }}

On 3 April 2017, the NHL announced that it would not participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics. In that statement, the NHL said that it had been open to hearing from the IOC, the IIHF, and the players' association on ways to make Olympic participation more attractive to team owners, but no meaningful dialogue on that matter had materialized. As to reasons the Board of Governors might be interested in re-evaluating their strongly held views on the subject, the NHLPA "confirmed that it has no interest or intention of engaging in any discussion that might make Olympic participation more attractive to the Clubs", and that it would not schedule a break for the Olympics in the 2017–18 season.{{cite web|title=NHL will not participate in 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Games|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nhl-will-not-participate-2018-pyeongchang-olympic-games/|website=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=3 April 2017|archive-date=3 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403210551/http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nhl-will-not-participate-2018-pyeongchang-olympic-games/|url-status=live}}

Although in the following months the president of the IIHF René Fasel tried to convince NHL to change its decision,{{cite web|url=http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/nhl-said-olympic-matter-is-closed-but-iihf-president-fasel-begs-to-differ|title=NHL said Olympic matter is closed, but IIHF president Fasel begs to differ|author=Jared Clinton|date=8 May 2017|website=The Hockey News|access-date=9 October 2018|archive-date=8 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408085534/http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/nhl-said-olympic-matter-is-closed-but-iihf-president-fasel-begs-to-differ|url-status=live }} in September he stated that there was no chance for participation of NHL players in the Pyeongchang olympic tournament. "I can say that this is now gone. We can tick that off the list. We will have to look ahead to China and the Beijing 2022 winter Games because there is an interest of the league and we have noted that. But logistically it is practically impossible for Pyeongchang. That train has left the station", he said.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2018-nhl/no-late-deal-for-nhl-players-at-pyeongchang-iihfs-fasel-idUSKCN1BN2A6|title=No late deal for NHL players at Pyeongchang – IIHF's Fasel|author=Karolos Grohmann|date=12 September 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=3 September 2018|archive-date=8 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408205841/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-2018-nhl/no-late-deal-for-nhl-players-at-pyeongchang-iihfs-fasel-idUSKCN1BN2A6|url-status=live }} Some NHL players expressed their discontent with league's decision to skip the Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nhl-no-olympics-pyeongchang-2018-player-reaction-1.4054783|title=The NHL said no to the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and players aren't happy|date=4 April 2017|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=9 October 2018|archive-date=9 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009203009/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nhl-no-olympics-pyeongchang-2018-player-reaction-1.4054783|url-status=live }} Alexander Ovechkin, captain of the Washington Capitals: "The Olympics are in my blood and everybody knows how much I love my country",{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/statement-from-alex-ovechkin-on-2018-winter-olympics/c-291068310|title=Statement from Alex Ovechkin on 2018 Winter Olympics|date=15 September 2017|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=9 October 2018|archive-date=10 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010095314/https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/statement-from-alex-ovechkin-on-2018-winter-olympics/c-291068310|url-status=live }} adding that "he would compete with Russia if he were the only NHL player to travel to South Korea". "It's brutal, [...] I don't think there's any reason we shouldn't be going", said Justin Faulk, 2014 Olympian and alternate captain for the Carolina Hurricanes.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/sports/hockey/nhl-2018-olympics-players-reaction.html|title=N.H.L.'s Olympics Stance Leaves Players Cold|author=Ben Shpigel|date=4 April 2017|website=The New York Times|access-date=9 October 2018|archive-date=8 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408210039/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/sports/hockey/nhl-2018-olympics-players-reaction.html|url-status=live }} Eventually, the NHL players were forced to follow the league's decision and stay in their clubs during the 2018 Olympics.{{cite web|title=Boudreau to Ovechkin: 'I thought you were going to the Olympics!'|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/boudreau-chirps-ovechkin-thought-going-olympics/|author=Andrew Bottomley|agency=Sportsnet.ca|date=15 February 2018|access-date=8 April 2018|language=en|archive-date=8 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408091912/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/boudreau-chirps-ovechkin-thought-going-olympics/|url-status=live}}

At the first tournament in 1920, there were many differences from the modern game: games were played outdoors on natural ice, forward passes were not allowed,{{cite journal|title=The Birth of Swedish Ice Hockey – Antwerp 1920|author=Hansen, Kenth|journal=Citius, Altius, Fortius|publisher=International Society of Olympic Historians|date=May 1996|volume=4|issue=2|pages=5–27|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv4n2/JOHv4n2c.pdf|access-date=29 May 2009|archive-date=2 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402012243/http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv4n2/JOHv4n2c.pdf|url-status=live}} the rink (which had been intended to be used only for figure skating) was 56 m × 18 m (165 ft × 58.5 ft) and two 20-minute periods were played.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://webarchive.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-21.html Story #21–Ice Hockey debuts at the Olympics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724180246/http://webarchive.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-21.html|date=24 July 2019 }}. Each team had seven players on the ice, the extra position being the rover. Following the tournament, the IIHF held a congress and decided to adopt the Canadian rules—six men per side and three periods of play.

File:Ice hockey layout.svg

The tournaments follow the rules used by the IIHF. At the 1969 IIHF Congress, officials voted to allow body-checking in all three zones in a rink similar to the NHL; it's prohibited for women. Before that, body-checking was only allowed in the defending zone in international hockey{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-19.html Story #19–IIHF allows bodychecking in all three zones] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916140614/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-19.html|date=16 September 2017 }}. Several other rule changes were implemented in the early 1970s: players were required to wear helmets starting in 1970, and goaltender masks became mandatory in 1972. In 1992, the IIHF switched to using a playoff system to determine medalists and decided that tie games in the medal round would be decided in a shootout.{{Cite web|url=http://stats.iihf.com/archive/Overtimes.pdf|title=All game-winning shot competitions ("shootouts")|access-date=12 March 2009|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318020205/http://stats.iihf.com/archive/Overtimes.pdf|archive-date=18 March 2009 }} In 1998, the IIHF passed a rule that allowed two-line passes. Before then, the neutral zone trap had slowed the game down and reduced scoring.{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-27.html Story #27–Dropping the red-line, allowing the two-line pass changes the Game] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916141031/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-27.html|date=16 September 2017 }}.

The current IIHF rules differ slightly from the rules used in the NHL.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/sport/iihf-rule-book.html|title=IIHF Rule Book|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date=11 March 2009|archive-date=2 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002092827/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/sport/iihf-rule-book.html|url-status=live}} One difference between NHL and IIHF rules is standard rink dimensions: the NHL rink is narrower, measuring 61 m × 26 m (200 ft × 85 ft), instead of the international size of 61 m × 30.5 m (200 ft × 100 ft){{Cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Olympics/2010Vancouver/2006/06/08/1620669-sun.html|title=VANOC shrinks Olympic ice|date=24 February 2009|access-date=11 March 2009|work=The Vancouver Sun|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225175030/https://canoe.com/category/sports|url-status=usurped}} The larger international size allows for a faster and less physical style of play.{{harvnb|Judd|2008|p=113}}{{harvnb|Podnieks|1997|pp=11–22}} Another rule difference between the NHL and the IIHF rules concerns how icing is called. In the NHL, a linesman stops play due to icing if a defending player (other than the goaltender) is not behind an attacking player in the race to the end-zone faceoff dots in his defensive zone, in contrast to the IIHF rules in which play is stopped the moment the puck crosses the goal line.{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=684940|title=Hybrid icing tops list of rule changes for 2013–14|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=9 February 2014|year=2014|archive-date=11 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111061200/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=684940|url-status=live }} The NHL and IIHF also differ in penalty rules. The NHL calls five-minute major penalties for more dangerous infractions of the rules, such as fighting, in addition to the minor and double minor penalties called in IIHF games.{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=24976|title=Major penalties|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=8 June 2006|year=2005|archive-date=16 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516161432/http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=24976|url-status=live }} This is in contrast to the IIHF rule, by which players who fight risk a game misconduct & major penalties.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/2.722/ice-hockey-essentials-international-vs-nhl-1.775716|title=Ice Hockey Essentials – International vs. NHL|publisher=CBC Sports|access-date=24 February 2012|date=4 December 2009|archive-date=30 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630051243/http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/history/story/2009/11/26/spo-essentials-international-nhl-hockey.html|url-status=live }} Beginning with the 2005–06 season, the NHL instituted several new rules. Some were already used by the IIHF, such as the shootout and the two-line pass.{{Cite web|last=Burnside|first=Scott|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2114523|title=Rule changes geared toward entertainment|access-date=12 March 2009|date=25 July 2005|publisher=ESPN|archive-date=3 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203193345/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2114523|url-status=live }} Others were not picked up by the IIHF, such as those requiring smaller goaltender equipment and the addition of the goaltender trapezoid to the rink.{{Cite web|title=Olympics vs. National Hockey League: How the rules are different|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2261075|publisher=ESPN|date=16 December 2005|access-date=8 March 2009|archive-date=11 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111061200/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2261075|url-status=live}} However, the IIHF did agree to follow the NHL's zero-tolerance policy on obstruction and required referees to call more hooking, holding, and interference penalties.{{Cite web|title=Tough test for Turin; cap on the brain|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2256450|publisher=ESPN|author=Burnside, Scott|access-date=8 March 2009|date=14 December 2005|archive-date=11 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111061200/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2256450|url-status=live}}{{harvnb|Podnieks|Szemberg|2008}}, [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-31.html Story #31–Zebras told to crackdown—once and for all] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916141047/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/the-iihf/100-year-anniversary/100-top-stories/story-31.html|date=16 September 2017 }}.

Each team is allowed to have between 15 and 20 skaters (forwards and defencemen) and two or three goaltenders, all of whom must be citizens of the nation they play for.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/olympics/olympics-men/tournament-program.html|title=Men's Tournament Program|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date=4 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328191716/http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/olympics/olympics-men/tournament-program.html|archive-date=28 March 2009 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/iihf-eligibility.html|title=IIHF Eligibility|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date=4 March 2009|archive-date=16 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916141100/http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/iihf-eligibility.html|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Doping at the Olympic Games}}

The IIHF follows the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) regulations on performance-enhancing drugs. The IIHF maintains a Registered Testing Pool, a list of top players who are subjected to random in-competition and out-of-competition drug tests.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/sport/anti-doping.html|title=Anti-Doping|website=International Ice Hockey Federation|access-date=18 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229052822/http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/sport/anti-doping.html |archive-date=29 December 2008}} According to the WADA, a positive in-competition test results in disqualification of the player and a suspension that varies based on the number of offences. When a player tests positive, the rest of their team is subjected to testing; another positive test can result in a disqualification of the entire team.{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/fileadmin/user_upload/PDF/Sport/World_Anti-Doping_Code_2003.pdf|title=World Anti-Doping Code|website=International Ice Hockey Federation|publisher=World Anti-Doping Agency|year=2003|pages=24–37|location=Montreal|access-date=18 March 2009|archive-date=24 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724210135/http://www.iihf.com/fileadmin/user_upload/PDF/Sport/World_Anti-Doping_Code_2003.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=NHL discusses doping procedures|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl-discusses-doping-procedures-1.259511|publisher=CBC Sports|access-date=18 March 2009|date=8 March 2001}}{{Cite news |last=Roberts |first=Selena |date=9 March 2001|title=HOCKEY; N.H.L. and U.S.O.C. Disagree on Drug Policy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/09/sports/hockey-nhl-and-usoc-disagree-on-drug-policy.html |access-date=31 August 2024 |work=The New York Times |page=D5 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=2001-03-17 |title=N.H.L. Agrees to Drug Plan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/17/sports/nhl-agrees-to-drug-plan.html |access-date=2024-08-31 |work=The New York Times |page=D4 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=22 March 2001 |title=N.H.L.: ROUNDUP; Drug Testing Agreement Made Final |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/22/sports/nhl-roundup-drug-testing-agreement-made-final.html |access-date=31 August 2024 |work=The New York Times |page=D7 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

In late 2005, two NHL players who had been listed as potential Olympians failed drug tests administered by the WADA. Bryan Berard tested positive for 19-Norandrosterone.{{Cite web |date=2006-01-20 |title=Agent: Berard tested positive for banned substance |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2299046 |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} José Théodore failed a drug test because he was taking Propecia, a hair loss medication that contains the non-performance-enhancing drug Finasteride.{{cite news |date=12 June 2006 |title=No violations in NHL drug tests |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/no-violations-in-nhl-drug-tests-1.577507 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106143158/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2006/06/12/nhl-drug-testing.html |archive-date=6 November 2012 |access-date=18 March 2009 |publisher=CBC Sports}}{{Cite news |last=Wharnsby |first=Tim |date=2006-02-10 |title=Theodore caught in doping test |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/theodore-caught-in-doping-test/article703100/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}} Both players received two-year bans from international competition, although neither had made their team's final roster.{{Cite web|title=No players failed drug tests this season, NHL says|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2481131|publisher=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|access-date=18 March 2009|date=12 June 2006|archive-date=11 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111061200/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2481131|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Litsky |first=Frank |date=2006-01-21 |title=HOCKEY; Berard Slapped With Two-Year International Suspension |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/21/sports/hockey-berard-slapped-with-twoyear-international-suspension.html |access-date=2024-08-31 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} On 6 December 2017 six Russian women ice hockey players were disqualified for doping violations. Results of the Russian women's team at the 2014 Winter Olympics were made void.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-six-russian-athletes-and-closes-one-case-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings|title=IOC sanctions six Russian athletes and closes one case as part of the Oswald Commission findingsdate=December 12, 2017|access-date=13 December 2017|publisher=International Olympic Committee|archive-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213214340/https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-six-russian-athletes-and-closes-one-case-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings|url-status=live}} Two other Russian players, Tatiana Burina and Anna Shukina, were also disqualified ten days later.{{Cite news|date=22 December 2017|title=IOC sanctions 11 Russian athletes as part of Oswald Commission findings|language=en|publisher=International Olympic Committee|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-11-russian-athletes-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings|access-date=22 December 2017|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222150034/https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sanctions-11-russian-athletes-as-part-of-oswald-commission-findings|url-status=live}}

Last updated after the 2022 Winter Olympics.

{{Medals table

|caption =

|host =

|flag_template = FlagIOCteam

|event =

|team =

|gold_CAN = 9|silver_CAN = 4|bronze_CAN = 3

|gold_URS = 7|silver_URS = 1|bronze_URS = 1|name_URS = {{FlagIOCteam|URS}}

|gold_USA = 2|silver_USA = 8|bronze_USA = 1

|gold_SWE = 2|silver_SWE = 3|bronze_SWE = 4

|gold_FIN = 1|silver_FIN = 2|bronze_FIN = 4

|gold_CZE = 1|silver_CZE = 0|bronze_CZE = 1

|gold_GBR = 1|silver_GBR = 0|bronze_GBR = 1

|gold_OAR = 1|silver_OAR = 0|bronze_OAR = 0|name_OAR = {{FlagIOCteam|OAR}}

|gold_EUN = 1|silver_EUN = 0|bronze_EUN = 0|name_EUN = {{FlagIOCteam|EUN}}

|gold_TCH = 0|silver_TCH = 4|bronze_TCH = 4|name_TCH = {{FlagIOCteam|TCH}}

|gold_GER = 0|silver_GER = 1|bronze_GER = 1

|gold_RUS = 0|silver_RUS = 1|bronze_RUS = 1

|gold_ROC = 0|silver_ROC = 1|bronze_ROC = 0|name_ROC = {{flagIOCteam|ROC|2022 Winter}} {{Font|(ROC)|size=90%}}

|gold_SUI = 0|silver_SUI = 0|bronze_SUI = 2

|gold_FRG = 0|silver_FRG = 0|bronze_FRG = 1|name_FRG = {{FlagIOCteam|FRG}}

|gold_SVK = 0|silver_SVK = 0|bronze_SVK = 1

}}

Unlike the IOC, the IIHF combines the records of predecessor and successor nations.{{cite web |url=https://www.iihf.com/en/medalists?selectedTournamentTypeID=1&gender=men |title=All Medallists – Olympic Men |publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation |access-date=28 February 2022 |archive-date=21 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221121245/https://www.iihf.com/en/medalists?selectedTournamentTypeID=1&gender=men |url-status=live }}

{{Medals table

|caption =

|host =

|flag_template = FlagIOCteam

|event =

|team =

|gold_CAN = 9|silver_CAN = 4|bronze_CAN = 3

|gold_RUS = 9|silver_RUS = 3|bronze_RUS = 2

|gold_USA = 2|silver_USA = 8|bronze_USA = 1

|gold_SWE = 2|silver_SWE = 3|bronze_SWE = 4

|gold_CZE = 1|silver_CZE = 4|bronze_CZE = 5

|gold_FIN = 1|silver_FIN = 2|bronze_FIN = 4

|gold_GBR = 1|silver_GBR = 0|bronze_GBR = 1

|gold_GER = 0|silver_GER = 1|bronze_GER = 2

|gold_SUI = 0|silver_SUI = 0|bronze_SUI = 2

|gold_SVK = 0|silver_SVK = 0|bronze_SVK = 1

}}

Key

File:WomenHockey2010WinterOlympicsvictory.jpg (silver), Canada (gold) and Finland (bronze).]]

Accurate as of the 2022 Winter Olympics.

{{Medals table

|caption =

|host =

|flag_template = FlagIOCteam

|event =

|team =

|gold_CAN = 5|silver_CAN = 2|bronze_CAN = 0

|gold_USA = 2|silver_USA = 4|bronze_USA = 1

|gold_SWE = 0|silver_SWE = 1|bronze_SWE = 1

|gold_FIN = 0|silver_FIN = 0|bronze_FIN = 4

|gold_SUI = 0|silver_SUI = 0|bronze_SUI = 1

}}

Key

|-

|align=left|{{FlagIOCteam|OAR|2018 Winter}}||bgcolor=F0F0F0|{{Sort|99|}}||bgcolor=F0F0F0|{{Sort|99|}}||bgcolor=F0F0F0|{{Sort|99|}}||bgcolor=F0F0F0|{{Sort|99|}}||bgcolor=F0F0F0|{{Sort|99|}}||4||bgcolor=F0F0F0|{{Sort|98|}}||bgcolor=F0F0F0|{{Sort|99|}}||1*

|-

|align=left|{{FlagIOCteam|ROC|2022 Winter}} {{Font|(ROC)|size=90%}}||bgcolor=F0F0F0|{{Sort|99|}}||bgcolor=F0F0F0|{{Sort|99|}}||bgcolor=F0F0F0|{{Sort|99|}}||bgcolor=F0F0F0|{{Sort|99|}}||bgcolor=F0F0F0|{{Sort|99|}}||bgcolor=F0F0F0|{{Sort|99|}}||{{Sort|05|5}}||bgcolor=F0F0F0|{{Sort|99|}}||1*

|-

|align=left|{{FlagIOCteam|RUS}}||{{Sort|98|–}}||{{Sort|05|5}}||{{Sort|06|6}}||6||{{Sort|08|dq,6}}||{{Sort|98|(OAR)}}||{{Sort|98|(ROC)}}||||4(6)

|-

|align=left|{{FlagIOCteam|SVK}}||{{Sort|98|–}}||{{Sort|98|–}}||{{Sort|98|–}}||8||{{Sort|98|–}}||{{Sort|98|–}}||{{Sort|98|–}}||||1

|-

|align=left|{{FlagIOCteam|SWE}}||{{Sort|05|5}}||bgcolor=cc9966|{{Sort|03|3}}||bgcolor=silver|{{Sort|02|2}}||{{Sort|04|4}}||{{Sort|04|4}}||7||{{Sort|08|8}}||Q||8

|-

|align=left|{{FlagIOCteam|SUI}}||{{Sort|98|–}}||{{Sort|98|–}}||{{Sort|07|7}}||5||bgcolor=cc9966|{{Sort|03|3}}||5||{{Sort|04|4}}||Q||6

|-

|align=left|{{FlagIOCteam|USA}}||bgcolor=gold|{{Sort|01|1}}||bgcolor=silver|{{Sort|02|2}}||bgcolor=cc9966|{{Sort|03|3}}||bgcolor=silver|{{Sort|02|2}}||bgcolor=silver|{{Sort|02|2}}||bgcolor=gold|{{Sort|01|1}}||bgcolor=silver|{{Sort|02|2}}||Q||8

|- style="background:#ddd" class="sortbottom"

!align=left|Total||6||8||8||8||8||8||10||10||

|}

{{Main|List of Olympic medalists in ice hockey}}

Sources (after the 2022 Winter Olympics):{{cite web|url=http://olympanalyt.com/OlympAnalytics.php?param_pagetype=MedalsByCountries¶m_dbversion=¶m_country=ALL¶m_games=ALL¶m_sport=Ice+Hockey|title=Olympic Analytics - Medals by Countries|website=olympanalyt.com|access-date=2022-02-20|archive-date=7 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207213046/http://olympanalyt.com/OlympAnalytics.php?param_pagetype=MedalsByCountries¶m_dbversion=¶m_country=ALL¶m_games=ALL¶m_sport=Ice+Hockey|url-status=live}}

Updated after the 2022 Winter Olympics.

{{Medals table

|caption =

|host =

|flag_template = FlagIOCteam

|event =

|team =

|gold_CAN = 14|silver_CAN = 6|bronze_CAN = 3

|gold_URS = 7|silver_URS = 1|bronze_URS = 1|name_URS = {{FlagIOCteam|URS}}

|gold_USA = 4|silver_USA = 12|bronze_USA = 2

|gold_SWE = 2|silver_SWE = 4|bronze_SWE = 5

|gold_CZE = 1|silver_CZE = 0|bronze_CZE = 1

|gold_GBR = 1|silver_GBR = 0|bronze_GBR = 1

|gold_OAR = 1|silver_OAR = 0|bronze_OAR = 0|name_OAR = {{FlagIOCteam|OAR}}

|gold_EUN = 1|silver_EUN = 0|bronze_EUN = 0|name_EUN = {{FlagIOCteam|EUN}}

|gold_TCH = 0|silver_TCH = 4|bronze_TCH = 4|name_TCH = {{FlagIOCteam|TCH}}

|gold_FIN = 1|silver_FIN = 2|bronze_FIN = 8

|gold_GER = 0|silver_GER = 1|bronze_GER = 1

|gold_RUS = 0|silver_RUS = 1|bronze_RUS = 1

|gold_ROC = 0|silver_ROC = 1|bronze_ROC = 0|name_ROC = {{flagIOCteam|ROC|2022 Winter}} {{Font|(ROC)|size=90%}}

|gold_SUI = 0|silver_SUI = 0|bronze_SUI = 3

|gold_FRG = 0|silver_FRG = 0|bronze_FRG = 1|name_FRG = {{FlagIOCteam|FRG}}

|gold_SVK = 0|silver_SVK = 0|bronze_SVK = 1

}}

Unlike the IOC, the IIHF combines the records of predecessor and successor nations.{{cite web |url=https://www.iihf.com/en/medalists?selectedTournamentTypeID=1&gender=women |title=All Medallists – Olympic Women |publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation |access-date=28 February 2022 |archive-date=21 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221112831/https://www.iihf.com/en/medalists?selectedTournamentTypeID=1&gender=women |url-status=live }}

{{Medals table

|caption =

|host =

|flag_template = FlagIOCteam

|event =

|team =

|gold_CAN = 14|silver_CAN = 6|bronze_CAN = 3

|gold_RUS = 9|silver_RUS = 3|bronze_RUS = 2

|gold_USA = 4|silver_USA = 12|bronze_USA = 2

|gold_SWE = 2|silver_SWE = 4|bronze_SWE = 5

|gold_CZE = 1|silver_CZE = 4|bronze_CZE = 5

|gold_GBR = 1|silver_GBR = 0|bronze_GBR = 1

|gold_FIN = 1|silver_FIN = 2|bronze_FIN = 8

|gold_GER = 0|silver_GER = 1|bronze_GER = 2

|gold_SUI = 0|silver_SUI = 0|bronze_SUI = 3

|gold_SVK = 0|silver_SVK = 0|bronze_SVK = 1

}}

{{Portal|Ice hockey|Olympics}}

• Ice sledge hockey at the Winter Paralympics
• List of Olympic venues in ice hockey

{{Reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{Cite book|last=Judd|first=Ron C.|title=The Winter Olympics: An Insider's Guide to the Legends, the Lore and the Games|year=2008|edition=Vancouver|publisher=The Mountaineers Books|location=Seattle|isbn=978-1-59485-063-9|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/winterolympicsin0000judd}}
• {{Cite book|author=Kennedy|first=John F. Jr.|author-link=John F. Kennedy Jr.|editor1-last=Findling|editor1-first=John E.|editor2-last=Pelle|editor2-first=Kimberly D.|chapter=Innsbruck 1976|title=Encyclopedia of the modern Olympic movement|edition=illustrated, revised|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QmXi_-Jujj0C&q=Encyclopedia+of+the+modern+Olympic+movement|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=2004|isbn=0-313-32278-3|access-date=12 November 2020|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019234600/https://books.google.com/books?id=QmXi_-Jujj0C&q=Encyclopedia+of+the+modern+Olympic+movement|url-status=live}}
• {{Cite book|author=Morales|first=Yves|editor1-last=Findling|editor1-first=John E.|editor2-last=Pelle|editor2-first=Kimberly D.|chapter=Pre-Olympic winter games|title=Encyclopedia of the modern Olympic movement|edition=illustrated, revised|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QmXi_-Jujj0C&q=Encyclopedia+of+the+modern+Olympic+movement|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=2004|isbn=0-313-32278-3|access-date=12 November 2020|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019234555/https://books.google.com/books?id=QmXi_-Jujj0C&q=Encyclopedia+of+the+modern+Olympic+movement|url-status=live}}
• {{Cite book|last=Podnieks|first=Andrew|title=Canada's Olympic Hockey Teams: The Complete History, 1920–1998|year=1997|publisher=Doubleday Canada|location=Toronto|isbn=0-385-25688-4|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/canadasolympicho1920podn}}
• {{Cite book|publisher=H. B. Fenn & Company |url=http://www.iihf.com/100-years/100-years-of-ice-hockey/home/100-top-stories.html|title=IIHF Top 100 Hockey Stories of All-Time|year=2008|isbn=978-1-55168-358-4|access-date=25 March 2009|last1=Podnieks|first1=Andrew|last2=Szemberg|first2=Szymon|author-link1=Andrew Podnieks|archive-date=21 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321095926/http://www.iihf.com/100-years/100-years-of-ice-hockey/home/100-top-stories.html|url-status=live}}

{{Refend}}

• {{cite book|last= Wallechinsky|first= David|author-link= David Wallechinsky|title= The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics, Turin 2006 Edition|year= 2005|publisher= SportClassic Books|isbn= 978-1-894963-45-9|ref=none}}
• {{Cite book|publisher=Key Porter Books|year=2008|title=World of Hockey: Celebrating a Century of the IIHF|isbn=978-1-55168-307-2|last1=Podnieks|first1=Andrew|last2=Szemberg|first2=Szymon|author-link1=Andrew Podnieks|ref=none}}
• {{Cite book|publisher=NDE Publishing|year=2002|title=Kings of the Ice: A History of World Hockey|author1=Podnieks, Andrew|author2=Gibbons, Denis|author3=Wawanash, Sheila|author4=Barta, Pavel|author5=Ryzkov, Dimitry|author6=Ratschunas, Tom|isbn=1-55321-099-9|ref=none}}

{{Commons category|Ice hockey at the Olympics}}

• [http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/results/search_r_uk.asp IOC results database], Olympic.org
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090501145239/http://www.la84foundation.org/5va/review_frmst.htm Olympic Review and Revue Olympique], LA84Foundation.org
• [http://hockey-history.com/olympic-hockey/medal-table/ Alternative Medal Table of the Olympic Hockey], hockey-history.com
• [http://www.olympicgameswinners.com/ Reference book about all Olympic Medalists of all times], Olympicgameswinners.com
• [http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/home.html International Ice Hockey Federation] – Official website – [https://web.archive.org/web/20110604191540/http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/championships/olympics.html Olympics], IIHF.com

{{Ice hockey at the Olympic Games}}

{{Sports at the Olympics}}

{{IIHF}}

{{Women's ice hockey tournaments}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ice Hockey At The Olympic Games}}

Ice hockey at the Olympic Games

Category:International Ice Hockey Federation tournaments

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1920

Category:Sports at the Winter Olympics

Olympics

Olympic