Beijing 2022: Decker absence makes Canada favourites over USA: Kim Martin Hasson on ice hockey gold medal grudge match

Canada will have the edge over USA going into their gold medal grudge match at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. That’s the view of former Sweden goaltender Kim Martin Hasson who believes the USA will still be impacted by the injury to captain Brianna Decker. Ad/> Decker was ruled out of the tournament after suffering a leg injury in their opening game against Finland, but the reigning Olympic champions have still reached the final in her absence.

/> Beijing 2022'Canada are favourites' — Martin Hasson looks ahead to ice hockey gold medal grudge match2 HOURS AGO However, against their bitter rivals, Martin Hasson believes they will come unstuck. “Every time US and Canada plays against each other, it's always a close game,” she said in the Eurosport cube. “There's always overtime, or just one goal difference, so it's gonna be a close game, but I’m keeping Canada as the favourite, as I said before the tournament.

“I think to have more depth in their forwards. They have experience. They've been here for a long time.

“And when Brianna Decker the superstar for US got injured, I think the odds for Canada grew so they are the favourites.” Finland beat Switzerland to take second successive Olympic bronze medal 'A massive upset' — US crash out of Olympics after shock defeat to Slovakia Since the sport was introduced for women at the Games in 1998, the two North American nations have shared all six titles, with Canada claiming four golds to USA’s two. The two teams have also contested every final bar one, when Martin Hasson’s Sweden beat the US in the 2006 semi-final only to lose to Canada in the gold medal match. “Everyone kind of builds this final up,” she added.