Ice hockey-US men's hockey eyes first Olympic gold in 46 years against Canada

MILAN, Feb 20 : The U.S. men's hockey team is one win from ending a decades-long Olympic gold-medal drought, 46 years after they delivered one of the most iconic moments in sports history at the 1980 Winter Games. 

The Americans throttled Slovakia 6-2 in the Milano Cortina Olympic semi-finals on Friday to book their berth in the gold-medal game where they will clash with familiar foes Canada.

They have a chance to summon echoes of the "Miracle on Ice," when a group of amateur and collegiate players stunned the Soviet Union juggernaut 4–3 and became instant national heroes en route to the 1980 gold.

"The rivalry with Canada is obviously a long battle and a long history," said forward Brock Nelson, whose grandfather was on the 1960 gold medal-winning U.S. team and his uncle was on the famed 1980 championship roster.

"(These are) two countries that want to come out on top, have the bragging rights that they're the best country in the world," Nelson said.

Reaching the final has already guaranteed the Americans their first Olympic ice hockey medal since Vancouver 2010, a run that ended in heartbreak, when Canada snatched gold 3–2 in overtime. 

Now, with gold finally within reach again, the U.S. has a shot at turning long-simmering frustration into history.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski said he watched the Netflix documentary "Miracle on Ice: The Boys of '80" released earlier this year before travelling to Milan.

"It definitely motivated me a little bit more," Werenski said. "And it's something not a lot of American hockey players have ever done. I think 36 players have ever won a gold medal for the U.S. in the Olympics, so we're aware of what's at stake.

"We're going to embrace it, we're going to enjoy it, and this is