Canadian Olympic men's hockey coach Jon Cooper expressed dissatisfaction with the overtime format following Canada's gold medal loss to Team USA on Sunday. Cooper argued that removing four players from the ice during overtime diminishes the essence of hockey, which is a TV-driven sport that aims to end games quickly. He believes that the 3-on-3 format is not suitable for the Stanley Cup finals or playoffs, despite acknowledging that all teams are aware of the rules beforehand.
Team USA's star player, Jack Hughes, scored the game-winning goal in overtime, securing their first gold medal since 1980. Canada, on the other hand, had numerous opportunities to score but struggled to capitalize due to the exceptional performance of Team USA's goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, who made 41 saves. Only Cale Makar managed to score for Canada during a 5-on-3 penalty chance in the second period.
Cooper emphasized that the format was not the primary reason for Canada's loss, but rather the team's inability to convert their chances. The controversy surrounding the overtime format has sparked discussions, with Cooper's comments highlighting the tension between tradition and innovation in the sport of hockey.
