1998 Women's Olympic Hockey Team Roster
The 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan marked a historic moment in US sports history, as it was the first time that women's hockey was included as an official Olympic sport. And while the US Women's Hockey Team would go on to take home the gold medal that year, it was the journey to that moment that truly stood out. In particular, the 1998 Women's Olympic Hockey Team Roster was a group of trailblazing athletes who paved the way for future generations of female hockey players. In this article, we'll take a closer look at that roster and the impact they had on the sport of women's hockey.
The 1998 Women's Olympic Hockey Team Roster
Let's start by introducing the 1998 Women's Olympic Hockey Team Roster. The team was made up of 20 players, with the majority of them being in their mid-20s. The team was coached by Ben Smith, who had previously coached the US Women's National Team to three consecutive World Championships. The roster included:
- Cammi Granato
- Katie King
- Tricia Dunn-Luoma
- Sue Merz
- Shelley Looney
- A.J. Mleczko
- Courtney Kennedy
- Chris Bailey
- Sarah Tueting
- Alison Turner
- Colleen Coyne
- Sue Watters
- Ilana Friedman
- Angela Ruggiero
- Winny Brodt
- Therese Brisson
- Lisa Brown-Miller
- Cammi Granato
- Shannon Miller
- Karyn Bye
As you can see, this was a talented and diverse group of players. Many of them had been playing together for years, competing in international tournaments and building up their team chemistry. But the 1998 Olympics would be the biggest challenge of their careers.
The Road to Nagano
The US Women's Hockey Team had been preparing for the 1998 Olympics for years, but it wasn't until a few months before the games that they truly came together as a team. They spent weeks training together in Lake Placid, NY, building up their physical and mental toughness. They also worked on their team strategies and game plans, knowing that they would be facing tough competition from other countries.
Despite their hard work and preparation, the US Women's Hockey Team faced a major setback just weeks before the Olympics. Their head coach, Ben Smith, was diagnosed with colon cancer and had to step down from his position. In a move that would come to define the team's resilience, the players rallied around each other and decided to dedicate their Olympic run to their coach.
With interim head coach, Digi Gonnet, at the helm, the US Women's Hockey Team headed to Nagano with one goal in mind: to win the gold medal.
The Olympic Games
The US Women's Hockey Team began their journey to gold with a dominant performance in the round-robin portion of the tournament. They won all five of their games, outscoring their opponents 33-4. The team's standout player was Cammi Granato, who led the tournament in scoring with 11 points in five games.
But it was the gold medal game against Canada that would go down in history as one of the most dramatic and exciting moments in US sports history. The game was tied 1-1 after regulation and remained tied after a 10-minute overtime period. This set up a shootout to determine the winner.
The US Women's Hockey Team found themselves down 1-0 in the shootout after Canada's first shooter scored. But then, with the game on the line, the US Women's Hockey Team's star player, Karyn Bye, stepped up and scored an incredible goal to tie the shootout. Then, goalkeeper Sarah Tueting made a crucial save on Canada's final shooter, securing the gold medal for the US Women's Hockey Team.
The Legacy of the 1998 Women's Olympic Hockey Team Roster
The impact of the 1998 Women's Olympic Hockey Team Roster cannot be overstated. They were trailblazers in a sport that had been dominated by men for decades, paving the way for future generations of female hockey players. Their gold medal win in Nagano inspired countless young girls to take up the sport of hockey and dream of one day representing their country on the Olympic stage.
Many of the players on the 1998 Women's Olympic Hockey Team Roster went on to have successful careers in hockey, both in the US and abroad. And while women's hockey still faces many challenges, the legacy of that team lives on. They proved that women's hockey can be just as exciting and competitive as men's hockey, and that female athletes deserve the same level of respect and recognition as their male counterparts.
Conclusion
The 1998 Women's Olympic Hockey Team Roster was a group of trailblazing athletes who inspired a generation of female hockey players. Their gold medal win in Nagano was a historic moment in US sports history, and their legacy continues to be felt today. As we celebrate the achievements of these incredible athletes, let's also remember the broader impact they had on the sport of women's hockey and on gender equality in sports.