Following the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver in which both the men's and women's ice hockey teams were awarded silver medals, it is interesting to point out the difference between these silver medals, as well as the U.S.'s silver medal in 2002 Salt Lake City and the 1972 silver medal in Sapporo.
Because the format of the tournament in recent Olympics, the silver medal was awarded after the U.S. teams lost the gold medal game.
In 1972, the U.S. WON the silver medal by virtue of its win over Czechoslovakia in the round-robin tournament format. This is an important difference that is noteworthy because the 1972 team did not have the chance to play in a "gold medal" game. This is the same format used in Lake Placid in 1980 that helped propel the U.S. to gold.
Because the format of the tournament in recent Olympics, the silver medal was awarded after the U.S. teams lost the gold medal game.
In 1972, the U.S. WON the silver medal by virtue of its win over Czechoslovakia in the round-robin tournament format. This is an important difference that is noteworthy because the 1972 team did not have the chance to play in a "gold medal" game. This is the same format used in Lake Placid in 1980 that helped propel the U.S. to gold.