Team USA avoided a blatant too-many-men penalty in the third period of Sunday's Olympic final(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Canadian fans claimed that the men's hockey gold medal match against Team USA was "rigged" after a blatant missed call in the third period of Sunday's final.
A tense battle at the Winter Olympics saw Team USA and Team Canada put everything on the line in the hockey. While the Canadian men's curling team has faced cheating allegations at the Milan-Cortina Games, the men's hockey team has been on the receiving end of some harsh calls.
During the 4-3 quarterfinal win over Czechia, there were six opponents on the ice when Canada conceded a crucial goal. Against Team USA in the gold medal game, the Americans got away with having seven players on the ice. For reference, no more than 5 players can be on the ice for a team during play, excluding the goaltender.
The gold medal game was tied after two periods, with Matt Boldy putting Team USA ahead in the first, before Cale Makar equalized for Canada in the second. Both teams pushed for the winner in the third period, but Canadian players were furious when too many U.S. players were on the ice.
Team Canada players and staff began screaming at officials, but the officials missed the call. Fans then began venting on social media, claiming that the game was "rigged" in favor of Team USA.
"Too many men must not be a rule in Olympic hockey," one fan sarcastically wrote on X. "That was the most blatant too many men I have seen in my life," another added.
Matt Boldy celebrated scoring the first goal for Team USA in the gold medal game(Image: Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto)
"Refs literally CHOSE not to call the too many men because game management bulls—. None of these refs should ever see another game," a third wrote.
"Can we not count, where’s the too many men penalty?" Another asked. "That was the most obvious too many men call of all time. Rigged and sad," one fan claimed.
"This game is rigged. That was Too Many Men," another said. One Canadian fan was absolutely seething, writing, "RIGGED HOCKEY GAME TOO MANY MEN BLATANTLY NOT CALLED."
Connor Hellebuyck kept Team USA in the gold medal game with a stunning performance(Image: Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Things went from bad to worse for Team Canada, as Sam Bennett was then called for a high-sticking penalty. Bennett clipped Jack Hughes with his stick while off balance, drawing blood, which gave Team USA a four-minute power play with under 10 minutes remaining.
Team USA failed to score with the extra man advantage, and Hughes ended up fouling Bo Horvat to hand Canada a power play. However, neither team scored the go-ahead goal in regulation, and the game ended 1-1 after 60 minutes.
Canada could, and probably should have scored in the third period and dominated Team USA, but couldn't score past goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The goaltender, who plays domestically in Canada for the Winnipeg Jets, made several stunning saves to keep Team USA in the game.
After being at the center of things in the third period, Hughes became the hero for Team USA by scoring the overtime winner. While his teeth were compromised when drawing the high-sticking penalty, Hughes put his body on the line and clinched gold.
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