Hanifin brings home gold

It was a nailbiter of a game on Sunday against Canada when the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team was able to snatch a quick overtime victory over Canada to earn the first hockey gold medal since the “Miracle” in Lake Placid.

Norwood’s Noah Hanifin was there representing his country and the Town, and helped to bring the team to a 2-1 victory in overtime.

The game itself was fast-paced, with some “extracurricular activities” coming up every so often when the players started getting a bit rough. The U.S. and Canada both had most, if not all, of their roster from the NHL, and that was reflected in the play. Much of the contest went back and forth throughout the ice, with harrowing saves being made up and down the ice.

The U.S. took the first goal about six minutes with a shot from another Massachusetts native, Minnesota Wild’s Matt Boldy, who flipped the puck over the stick of two Canadian defenders to then go one-on-one with goalie Jordan Binnington and backhanded the puck into the net.

U.S. Goalie and Winnipeg Jets player Connor Hellebuyck kept the Canadians at bay most of the match, even with a five-on-three power play in the second period, but Canadian Cale Makar, who plays for the Colorado Avalanche during the regular NHL season, blasted a shot by him with 1:44 minutes left in the second period.

Hellebuyck, Hanifin and the rest of the U.S. defensemen would not let a shot by throughout the third period, but neither would the Canadians. The game went into overtime, but 1:41 into the fourth period, Michigan native and Columbus Blue Jackets player Zach Werenski got a cross-ice pass to fellow Michigander and New Jersey Devils player Jack Hughes, who made the game-winning goal against Makar.

The close and low score was an outlier for both teams. Canada defeated Czechia 5-0, Switzerland 5-1, France 10-2, Czechia again 4-3 in the quarter finals, and 3-2 against Finland. The U.S. beat Latvia 5-1, Denmark 6-3, Germany 5-1, Sweden 2-1 in overtime, and Slovakia 6-2 before the Canadians.

The Canadians had more shots on goal than the U.S. by a wide margin, 42-28. Quinn Hughes was named the tournament's Best Defender, and Connor Hellebuyck was named the tournament's Best Goaltender.

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Hanifin’s stats for the last three games were admirable, with one assist against Slovakia, and no penalty minutes throughout the entire six-game series. He had a shot on Sweden as well. He had 10 shifts against Canada, 14 against Slovakia and 12 against Sweden. He had 14 shifts in the first two games against Latvia and Denmark, respectively, and 15 minutes against Germany. He scored one goal against Denmark, going through the legs of both a defenseman and the goalie.

Hanifin also hoisted Hughes on his shoulders with Jack Eichel to celebrate the win.

“This game, in a lot of ways, was an inspiration to our country,” said Mike Sullivan, head coach of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team, in an interview with USA Hockey. “These are all terrific players, and a team in the true sense of the word. We were loaded with personality up and down the lineup.”