The Canadian women’s hockey team lost the gold but inspired a country of fans on Thursday who watched their underdog fight against the United States in an Olympic faceoff.
Stunned crowds in school gyms, doctors’ waiting rooms, public libraries and other makeshift watch parties looked on as Canada gave up a late third period lead and lost in overtime.
Despite the defeat, 11-year-old Clara Hunt, who doesn't play hockey, was considering taking up the sport.
“Watching this is really inspiring me to play more hockey, watch more hockey and just become a stronger Canadian woman,” she said.
Hunt was one of the many Ontario school students who tuned in for a real-time lesson in sports history and symbolism as the puck dropped on the greatest rivalry in women’s hockey, imbued with recent geopolitical tensions of the fraught Canada-U.S. relationship.
Her gymnasium at Bessborough Drive Elementary and Middle School in Toronto's east end held hundreds of young enraptured fans.
Emma Botrie, also 11, said she too was moved by the game.
“It means a lot to me because I play hockey myself and seeing these girls fight to get the gold medal, it is really inspiring for me, really motivational,” she said.
“It was really amazing and really fun to cheer on the girls with my friends … put on our outfits, to show Canadian pride.”
Canada struck first with a short-handed goal early in the second period and took their 1-0 lead into the final frame. Then, with the clock ticking down in the third period and the American net empty, the U.S. tied it up and then secured the overtime win.
Hockey metaphors such as "Elbows up" have abounded in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to tariff and annex Canada. In the nation's capital, chants of "Go Canada Go" broke out among dozens of people gathered at a local Ottawa bar as the game got underway.
Leah Stolarski and her daughter Beatrice recently immigrated to Canada from the United States. Stolarski said it’s a very “politically tense” time and that she and her daughter are happy to be in Canada and are rooting for the Canadian women’s team.
“We’re happy to celebrate with other Canadians,” Stolarski said. “We’re very happy to represent our new home.”
The bar was peppered with sweaters and shirts of the Ottawa Charge, the hometown team of the upstart Professional Women’s Hockey League in its second season. Teammates turned to rivals at the Olympics with three Charge players suited up for Canada and two for the U.S.
“We got to see so much great women’s hockey in advance of this final game,” said Jenn Drew, watching from Ottawa.
Drew, who grew up in a family where “girls didn’t play hockey,” says she’s pleased to see the women’s game celebrated.
“It just warms my heart and made me feel so wonderful about the position of women’s sports in this country.”
The crowd in Ottawa nearly went silent as people watched the replay of the game-winning goal. Some looked teary-eyed.
Tris Sparling said the loss hurts, especially when the Canadians came so close to gold.
“I hope our players come back with their heads high knowing that our country is totally proud of them," she said.
In Halifax, a physiotherapy clinic handed out coffee and Timbits in its waiting room to complement the game beamed on the flat screen TVs.
David Kachan, the owner of the clinic, said his team and many patients have been elated watching Canadian athletes compete and succeed in the Winter Olympics.
“We’re having a ball with it … some patients are phoning in to say they’re coming in 15 or 20 minutes before their appointment so they can get in some of the game,” he said in an interview Thursday.
“We have these remarkable Canadian athletes doing amazing things … it’s really easy to get behind that.”
Several physiotherapists and patients had their eyes glued to the screen as the game got underway. Gasps filled the room as Canadian goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens made a save.
Business and hockey mixed during the office-hours game. In a Regina boardroom, about a dozen employees with Sask Sport, a non-profit supporting Saskatchewan's athletes, had their laptops open but their eyes were mostly trained on the TVs.
Some wore red and white while snacking on Canada-themed cupcakes, with miniature Canadian flags and cowboy hats on the table.
The group yelled, "No!" as the puck went into Canada's net in overtime. Some covered their eyes while others looked up at the ceiling. Kia Schollar, the high-performance sport lead, tucked her face into her sweater and turned away from the TV.
"It's disappointing for sure," Schollar later said. "But I think you couldn't ask for a better quality game.
"Those of us watching try to keep in mind that while we could be disappointed, we aren't the players on the ice. They wanted it, you could see the emotion on their face and they still made Canada really proud."
Despite the Canada-U.S. tension, the pureness of sport shines through, she said.
“People competing for their country and trying to do their best, demonstrating resilience and perseverance, those are some qualities we really hold dear as Canadians. That’s really what we’re watching,” Schollar said.
In Toronto, Ryan Dimarco and his daughter Olive donned the Maple Leaf for the festivities at a downtown bar and restaurant where business suits mixed with jerseys. Dimarco said with three daughters aged eight to 13 who all play hockey, the sport "has really gained a lot of momentum in our household."
When the family isn't at the rink for one of the girls' games, they're watching PWHL's Toronto Sceptres or skating in the backyard, he said.
Olive added, "it's really fun because I like to have fun with my team."
Back at the Toronto school's gymnasium, 14-year-old Mila Greblleshi helped to organize the watch party.
"I really look up to them," said Greblleshi of the women's team.
"Seeing those ... strong and brave women who are up on the biggest stage in all of the world."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 19, 2026.
— With files from Catherine Morrison in Ottawa, Lyndsay Armstrong in Halifax, Jeremy Simes in Regina, Sharif Hassan in Toronto and Sandra Ezekwesili in Toronto.
Jordan Omstead, The Canadian Press
