10 Biggest Upsets in Men’s Olympic Hockey History

Team Canada and Team USA usually boast the best hockey odds in men’s Olympic hockey, but even the top nations are not immune to close calls and upset defeats.

From the American “Miracle on Ice” in 1980 to the Czechs’ improbable gold-medal run in 1998, here are the 10 biggest upsets in men’s Olympic hockey history.

Biggest Hockey Upsets in Men’s Olympics

1. United States vs. Soviet Union: 4-3, 1980 Olympics

A semifinal showdown featured an American team composed almost entirely of amateurs facing the Soviet Union, which was stacked with professionals and had won four consecutive Olympic gold medals.

Team USA overcame a 3-2 deficit to defeat the Soviets in the semifinal before beating Finland in the final to win gold and achieve its iconic “Miracle on Ice.”

2. Czech Republic vs. Russia: 1-0, 1998 Olympics

In the first Olympic Games to feature NHL players, the Czech Republic finished off their improbable gold-medal run with a 1-0 victory against Russia in the final.

Dominik Hasek stopped all 20 shots he faced to shut out a talented Russian squad led by Pavel Bure and Sergei Fedorov.

3. Czech Republic vs. Canada: 2-1, 1998 Olympics

The Czechs held a 1-0 lead with 63 seconds in regulation before Canada’s Trevor Linden tied the score and sent the game to extra time.

Dominik Hasek stopped 26 of 27 shots and all five attempts in the shootout to lead the Czech Republic to an upset win over a Wayne Gretzky-led Canadian team.

4. Switzerland vs. Canada: 2-0, 2006 Olympics

A stacked Canadian roster featuring future Hall of Famers such as Joe Sakic, Jarome Iginla, and Martin Brodeur outshot Switzerland 49-16 but couldn’t solve Swiss goaltender Martin Gerber.

It marked Switzerland’s first-ever win against Canada in international competition.

5. France vs. United States: 3-1, 1998 Olympics

In an ironic twist, Herb Brooks, who coached the USA to their 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” was the bench boss for France at the 1998 Olympics. Brooks coached a French team with no NHL players to an improbable win against his home nation.

6. Belarus vs. Sweden: 4-3, 2002 Olympics

Belarussian defenceman Vladimir Kopat beat goaltender Tommy Salo with a slap shot from centre ice in the final few minutes of regulation to lift Belarus to a legendary quarterfinal win over a Swedish squad led by Peter Forsberg, Nicklas Lidstrom, and several other hockey icons.

7. United States vs. Czechoslovakia: 9-4, 1960 Olympics

Team USA’s 1960 gold medal win marked their first at the Olympics and, according to some, rivals their 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”

An amateur American team earned unlikely wins against Canada and the Soviet Union before skating to a dominant 9-4 win versus Czechoslovakia, thanks to a six-goal surge in the final frame.

8. Great Britain vs. Canada: 2-1, 1936 Olympics

Great Britain has skated in only four men’s ice hockey events at the Olympics, but they made the best of their opportunity in 1936 with a 2-1 victory against Canada and an eventual gold medal win.

9. Finland vs. Russian Olympic Committee: 2-1, 2022 Olympics

The Finns went undefeated at the 2022 Olympics to finally earn their first gold in men’s hockey, capped by a 2-1 win against the ROC in the final.

10. Germany vs. Canada: 4-3, 2018 Olympics

While there were no NHL players at the 2018 Olympics, Germany’s 4-3 win against Canada in the semifinal was still a monumental upset.

The Germans eventually lost to the ROC in the final, but it was the first time the nation had ever skated in a gold medal game.