Led by former WHLer's Joe Sackic, Jarome Iginla and Scott Niedermayer, Team Canada captured Gold at the 2002 Olympics, breaking a 50-year drought.
Here’s a THN cover that was 50 years in the making, as the Canadian men captured Olympic hockey gold in 2002 for the first time since 1952. After failing to earn a medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics – the first Winter Games that allowed NHL players to participate – the Canadian NHLers rebounded with a golden effort in Salt Lake City, led by Joe Sakic, the tournament MVP and high scorer, as well as Jarome Iginla, Mario Lemieux, Steve Yzerman and Paul Kariya, with Martin Brodeur in net.
Following a slow start – Canada lost to Sweden in the opener, barely beat Germany and then tied the Czech Republic – team manager Wayne Gretzky delivered an infamous post-game rant directed at what he viewed as anti-Canadian officiating. Canada didn’t look back from that point onward, downing Finland in the quarterfinal and then dumping surprise semifinalist Belarus (which had shockingly upset Sweden in the quarters).
Canada defeated archrival Team USA 5-2 in the gold-medal game, which was played on the 50th anniversary of Canada’s last hockey gold. In case you missed it on page 99, Canada’s women’s team also won gold.
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