Ice hockey-Heartbreak for Canada as US win hockey gold in overtime

MILAN, Feb 22 : For a nation that measures itself in hockey gold, Sunday's heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to the United States in overtime was more than a lost final, it was a symbolic shift in a rivalry Canada has long considered its own to win.

Canada, owners of nine Olympic men's hockey titles to the Americans' three, is a country whose national identity is intertwined with the sport. 

This one will sting.

"Losing hurts, doesn't matter who it's to," Canada's coach Jon Cooper said. "I look at this game, I'm so proud of what went on. I'm proud of our country. I'm proud of our players and proud of our team. 

"At the end, you're going to read in a book that in 2026 USA won the gold in Olympic hockey and Canada won the silver. I think in the grand scheme, the big winner of this tournament was ice hockey."

SHADOW OF CROSBY'S ABSENCE

Back home, bleary-eyed Canadians had nursed beers before breakfast, bars opening as early as 5 a.m. on the west coast as a nation gathered in hope. 

Instead, they watched the U.S. celebrating, and Canada left to swallow a rare heartbreak on hockey's biggest stage, and on the heels of Canada's women's team losing gold to the U.S. in overtime.

The absence of captain Sidney Crosby - the national hero responsible for so many defining Olympic moments including the golden goal in Canada's victory over the U.S. at the 2010 Olympics - also cast a long shadow.

"You want to be out here and you want to find any way possible, but not at the expense of what needs to be done," said the longtime Pittsburgh Penguins player, who sustained an injury in the quarter-final against the Czechs. "And watching the way we played today, guys played incredible.

Asked about being his last chance at a third Olympic gold, the 38-year-old