Jon Cooper calls out the Olympics for overtime rules claiming greed ruined the gold medal game
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Tyler Ball
Feb 22, 2026 (4:51 PM)
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Photo credit: David W Cerny/Reuters via Imagn Images
This afternoon, Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper called out the Olympics claiming that greed motivated overtime rules ruined the gold medal game.
This morning, the United States and Canada clashed in a game for the ages with Team USA coming out on top in overtime.
Heading into overtime, Canada was dominating the game heavily outshooting the Americans with goaltender Connor Hellebuyck having to come up clutch.
The overtime featured a 20-minute 3-on-3 period leading to a much more open game that looked less and less like traditional hockey which seemed to favor the Americans.
Ultimately, Jack Hughes found the back of the net giving the United States the gold medal and sending Canada home disappointed.
After the game concluded, fans, analysts, and now coaches have spoken out against the overtime format.
Jon Cooper calls out overtime format at the Olympics fueled by greed
In his post game press conference, Cooper vehemently opposed the 3-on-3 overtime rules pointing out that the Stanley Cup Playoffs abandons the format for the traditional even strength overtime instead.
In addition, Cooper made the claim that the overtime rules have nothing to do with what’s best for the athletes but instead what’s best for television and ratings.
You take four players off the ice, now hockey’s not hockey anymore. There’s a reason overtime and shootouts are in play — it’s all TV-driven to end games, so it’s not a long time. There’s a reason why it's not in the Stanley Cup final or playoffs
With the outcry of frustration from almost everyone over the overtime rules it will be interesting to see if the format is changed before hockey returns to the Olympics in 2030.
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Team USA too many men no call sparks Olympic final fury as Canada bench erupts
Team USA too many men no call sparks Olympic final fury as Canada bench erupts
Previously on HockeyLatest