Jon Cooper speaks on what many hockey lovers are already thinking.
On Sunday, we got to watch one of the best international hockey matches we might ever see when Team Canada played against Team USA in the finals of the Men’s Hockey Tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
It was an amazing game filled with exciting moments—huge hits, fantastic saves, and great goals. However, a lot of hockey fans were left feeling disappointed. For a whole hour, we enjoyed thrilling action between Canada and the USA, but because of time limits and TV schedules, it had to stop after those 60 minutes.
Instead of a regular 5 on 5 overtime, we got a 3 on 3 overtime, which felt out of place for such an important game. After the match ended, Canadian coach Jon Cooper shared how he felt, comparing it to the biggest games in the NHL.
“When you take away four players from the ice, it just doesn’t feel like hockey anymore,” Cooper said. “Overtime and shootouts are only there because of TV needs—they want to finish games quickly. That’s why you don’t see it in the Stanley Cup Final or playoffs. ”
I would have much rather seen the exciting play we had in the first hour continue until someone won in sudden death overtime, but it seems like the organizers of the Winter Olympics disagreed.
Do you agree with Cooper’s perspective, or do you like the current system? Share your opinions in the comments.
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