Team USA Exposed For Cheating During Gold Medal Win Against Team Canada At Olympics [Photos]

The refs did Team Canada dirty again.

Team USA is facing accusations of cheating following their 2-1 overtime win over Canada in Sunday’s men’s Olympic hockey gold medal game. Many fans on social media believe the United States got away with a “too many men on the ice” infraction.

With the game tied 1-1 and 8:36 remaining in the third period, Canada was building serious momentum. The Canadian offense was pressing hard, dominating possession and firing shots toward the American net.

During that stretch, the United States appeared to get away with what many believe was a blatant line change violation. As the game hero Jack Hughes played the puck near the boards, Canadian players immediately threw their arms in the air, signaling what they believed was a clear “too many men on the ice” infraction.

However, the referees allowed the game to continue, and no penalty was called.

Screenshots from the incident quickly went viral on social media, with fans pointing out that Team USA had seven skaters on the ice for a brief moment during the tense sequence.

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Czechia Men’s Hockey Team Also Faced Controversy Over Extra Players on Ice

Notably, this is not the first time Canada has had to deal with an opponent appearing to have an extra player on the ice during the tournament. In the quarterfinal against Czechia, the Czechs appeared to have an extra skater on the ice when they scored to take a 3-2 lead. That controversy faded when Canada ultimately won that game.

This time, however, the result did not go Canada’s way.

Under IIHF rules, during a line change, the exiting player must be within close proximity to the bench before the substitute enters the play. If either the entering or exiting player touches the puck or checks an opponent while both are technically on the ice, a bench minor penalty for too many players can be assessed at the referee’s discretion.

The rule also clarifies that if a player is accidentally struck by the puck during a change without actively participating, play can continue without a penalty. That gray area might have given the USA a reprieve.