MILAN, ITALY – It was another shining moment for the University of North Dakota at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
 
Two former North Dakota men's hockey standouts Brock Nelson (2010-12) and Jake Sanderson (2020-22) captured the Gold Medal in men's ice hockey in a thrilling, 2-1, overtime win over Canada on Sunday morning.
 
The duo became the first UND players to capture gold since Jonathan Toews in 2014 and join Dave Christian in 1980 as the only American men to win gold in the sport.
 
Nelson struck for a pair of goals in the opening win over Latvia and added an assist to finish his tournament with three points and a plus-1 rating. Sanderson dished out a pair of helpers and helped anchor a USA penalty kill that finished perfect in the tournament, including a 5-on-3 kill against Canada on Sunday.
 
Three former UND women's hockey players also represented their home nation of Finland in the women's hockey tournament, with Michelle Karvinen (2011-14), Emma Nuutinen (2016-17) and Susanna Tapani (2013-14) all helping Finland reach the quarterfinal round.
 
It was a historic tournament for Karvinen, as she appeared in her fifth Olympic Games and tied an all-time record for Olympic women's hockey games played with 29.
 
North Dakota has now produced at least one medalist in each of the last five Winter Olympic Games across men's and women's ice hockey.
 
UND Olympic Gold Medalists in Men's Ice Hockey
Jake Sanderson/Brock Nelson – 2026 (USA)
Jonathan Toews – 2014 (Canada)
Jonathan Toews – 2010 (Canada)
Ed Belfour – 2002 (Canada)
Dave Christian – 1980 (USA)
 
For more information on North Dakota hockey, follow on social media @UNDmhockey or visit FightingHawks.com.