On Thursday afternoon, the women's hockey team for the United States will take on Canada in the final at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Unfortunately, there's already some controversy surrounding this matchup.
Team USA defeated Sweden in the semifinals to reach the gold medal game. American goaltender Aerin Frankel continued her impressive run by recording yet another shutout. Now, she'll be tasked with keeping Canada off the scoreboard for the second time in this year's Olympics. Earlier in the tournament, Team USA defeated Canada 5-0 in round-robin play.
Although the odds will be in Team USA's favor, Kendall Coyne Schofield made it clear that nothing is guaranteed in a gold medal game. She would know considering she played in three of them.
"Knowing the pressure of that moment, the energy in the building, it's going to be different," the Team USA veteran said. "But really it's just about emptying the tank. Whatever you have left. It's a long tournament, just empty it. Go out there and give it your best. That's all you can do."
© Katie Stratman-Imagn Images.
Even though Team USA and Canada have the chance to capture Olympic gold this Thursday, it's not considered a "high demand" event. That means press box suites will only be on a first come, first served basis.
"The women’s hockey Olympic Gold Medal final between Canada and USA is not considered a “high demand” event, meaning media attending will get spots in the press box on a first come first serve basis," Claire Hanna of TSN said. "The only hockey game considered 'high demand' is the Men’s hockey final."
Disrespectful move by the IOC?
Hockey fans understand the demand for the women's final isn't as high as the men's final, but they still find this decision from the International Olympic Committee to be incredibly damaging to the sport.
"If these Olympics have taught us anything, it's that the IIHF and IOC still think of women's sport as secondary," Ian Kennedy of The Hockey News said.
"Called usa vs canada in women's hockey 'not high demand.' Two countries that have been going to war over this sport for 30 years," one fan wrote on social media. "Whoever made that call has never watched a hockey game in their life."
"Oh the disrespect," one person said in response to this decision.
The women's hockey final will take place on Thursday at 1:10 p.m. ET. It'll be streamed on Peacock.