‘Captain Clutch’ stars again as Canada enjoy ‘special sort of redemption’ with ice hockey gold against USA

It wasn’t really that close and there were certainly no cigars.

Twelve years ago in Vancouver, after winning women’s Olympic hockey gold against the USA, Marie-Philip Poulin, then just 18, chugged back a lager - even though it was illegal for her to drink - while teammates sparked up their stogies in celebration.

It was a story that really offended no-one but the International Olympic Committee who, as is often their way, got rather piously po-faced about the whole thing.

Poulin is now Canada’s 30-year old captain, a three-time Olympic champion, widely considered among the best women players of all-time and a guaranteed future Hall of Famer.

Dubbed ‘Captain Clutch’, she assisted the first goal and scored the second and third in a 3-2 final victory over the USA, watching the dying moments from the sin bin after the US had reduced the deficit with just 12 seconds remaining.

“It’s just so good, it’s a great feeling,” she said. “It was one hell of an effort and this is a special sort of redemption.

“I don’t know what’s happening, there is some angel up there.  This group makes things easy. Celebrating each other’s success, being on the same page, from staff to player, one team. It’s huge.

“Since 2018, we have been putting in the work. To be rewarded with the gold medal makes it all worth it.

“I just got shivers. It feels very good, last time was very hard. You take some time to reflect on what you need to do better as a group and personally. When you surround yourself with good people, good things happen. We are resilient and we were going to put in the past and win that gold here.”

Since women made their ice hockey debut in Nagano, Canada have won four golds and two silvers and never failed to make the final.

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