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Women's ice hockey team at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games

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ICE HOCKEY & SLED HOCKEY

Olympic ice hockey and Paralympic sled hockey are fast-paced, high-energy sports played on ice where two teams compete to score the most goals by shooting a puck into the opponent’s net. Each team has six players in the ice rink at a time—five skaters and one goaltender—competing across three 20-minute periods.

With its thrilling mix of speed, skill, and strategy, ice hockey and sled hockey are among the most exciting and celebrated events at the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Ice Hockey in the Olympics

image of ice hockey in the olympics

Men’s Olympic ice hockey made its first appearance as a seven-a-side event at the 1920 Antwerp Summer Games, before becoming a permanent feature at the 1924 Chamonix Winter Olympics, where the modern six-a-side format was introduced.

Women’s ice hockey was officially added to the Olympic program decades later, making its historic debut at the Nagano 1998 Winter Games.

Today, Olympic ice hockey continues to showcase speed, skill, and international talent. At the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, fans can look forward to two exciting events: the men’s tournament and the women’s tournament.

Fun Facts on Olympic Ice Hockey

  • The highest-scoring game in Olympic ice hockey history came in 1924 when Canada beat Switzerland 33–0
  • The Olympic ice hockey final is often one of the most-watched events of the Winter Games, drawing millions of viewers globally.
  • The U.S. victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Lake Placid Games—famously called the “Miracle on Ice”—is considered one of the greatest sports moments of the 20th century.

Famous Olympic Ice Hockey Players

Mike Eruzione

Captain of the 1980 U.S. men’s hockey team, Eruzione scored the iconic game-winning goal in the “Miracle on Ice” victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Winter Games.

Jim Craig

The standout goaltender of the 1980 squad, Craig’s performance helped secure Olympic gold at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Games, in what is remembered as one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

Mike Modano

Considered one of the greatest American-born hockey players, Modano is a three-time Olympian (1998, 2002, 2006) and helped Team USA capture a silver medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games.

Paralympic Sled Hockey (Para Ice Hockey / Sledge Hockey)

image of Paralympic Sled Hockey (Para Ice Hockey / Sledge Hockey)

Sled hockey (also known as para ice hockey or sledge hockey) is the Paralympic version of ice hockey, designed for athletes with lower-body disabilities. Players sit on a double-bladed sled and use two shortened sticks to propel themselves and pass or shoot the puck. Like traditional hockey, it’s played with six players per team over three periods with the same goal: outscore the opponent.

Sled hockey made its Paralympic debut at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Games, and since 2010, women have been eligible to participate in Paralympic tournaments.

The U.S. Paralympic sled hockey teams emerged as a powerhouse, winning multiple gold medals and thrilling fans with speed, intensity, and incredible athleticism.

Fun Facts on Paralympic Sled Hockey

  • Team USA is the most successful sled hockey team in Paralympic history, with multiple gold medal wins, including four consecutive titles from 2010 to 2014.
  • Sled hockey follows nearly the same rules as ice hockey, but athletes use sleds with blades and two sticks to both propel themselves and handle the puck.
  • The sticks are designed with a blade on one end for shooting and a metal pick on the other to dig into the ice for speed and control.

Famous Paralympic Sled Hockey Players

Steve Cash

Cash was a goaltender legend who helped lead Team USA to three Paralympic gold medals (2010, 2014, 2018) and one bronze (2006). He earned recognition as one of the best sled hockey goalies in history.

Declan Farmer

Widely considered one of the best sled hockey players in the world, Farmer scored game-winning goals in multiple Paralympics, including the gold-medal clincher against Canada in PyeongChang 2018.

Josh Pauls

Nicknamed “Captain America”, Pauls has been a leader on the Team USA sled hockey team, leading the team to four consecutive Paralympic gold medals (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022).

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Ice Hockey & Sled Hockey Hall of Famers

1980 Men's Ice Hockey Team | Miracle on Ice

1980 Men’s Ice Hockey Team

The 1980 U.S. Men’s Ice Hockey Team of college players and minor leaguers pulled perhaps the biggest upset ever in Olympic history, pulling off the “Miracle On Ice” to win the gold medal at the Lake Placid 1980 Olympic Winter Games.

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Herb Brooks

The last player cut from the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team that won gold at Squaw Valley, Herb Brooks played in the next two Olympics and was the coach of the 1980 Miracle On Ice gold-medal winning team.

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Notable moments

The 1980 U.S. Men's Ice Hockey Team of college players and minor leaguers pulled perhaps the biggest upset ever in Olympic history, pulling off the "Miracle On Ice" to win the gold medal at the Lake Placid 1980 Olympic Winter Games.

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