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U.S. Has Far-Reaching Support System For Gold-Medal Showdown With Canada

by Scott Charles

Team USA celebrates their 4-1 win over Team Finland during the women's ice hockey playoff semifinal match during the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on Feb. 14, 2022 in Beijing. 

 

Alumni of the U.S. women’s hockey program will gather once again to cheer on Team USA in their Gold-Medal game against Canada Wednesday evening. 
Like they have all tournament long, players from past Olympic teams have joined a Zoom watch party to view games together, albeit virtually. 
“It’s special. This team, the Olympic Games played a critical, crucial, important role in our entire lives,” captain of the 2018 Gold-Medal winners Meghan Duggan said. “I feel so emotionally connected and invested to not only the players that are competing right now, but all of the woman that came before me and lit that fire. … “It’s pretty cool to bring people together, we all share such a unique, special common bond just through what we have been through.” 
Players such as Julie Chu, Monique Lamoureux-Morando, and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson have also voiced their support of the current team and anticipation for tonight’s tilt on social media. 

 

 

 

 


But the outpouring support has not been limited to former Olympians with Billie Jean King, the New England Patriots, Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy and countless others offering their support. 

 

 


Despite tonight’s matchup beginning just after 11 p.m. ET, four of the first six games for Team USA took place early in the morning here in the states, and the time zone difference have made for unique Zoom calls. 


“It was pretty funny to see everyone in their morning routine,” Lamoureux-Morando said. “It’s been fun to see familiar faces and chat about the team.” 


“People are popping in and out on their way to work, or breakfast with their kids, or fresh out of the shower,” Duggan said. “To see someone like Katie King, jumping on from her car with her daughter, and on the way to Boston College to inspire another generation of Olympians where she coaches there is special.” 

 

 


The watch parties have been a priority for these alumni, with one former player joining from her hospital bed after giving birth to a baby boy. 


“It’s exciting to be on this side,” Duggan said. “I know what it feels like to play and the support that you need and how far it goes. And that’s what we want to do.” 


Since retiring from hockey, Duggan joined the New Jersey Devils’ front office as a manager of player development approximately nine months ago. But her most important job has been becoming a mother and watching the Olympics with her two children has changed her perspective. 


“It’s special to watch the Olympics as a parent with two young kids watching,” Duggan said. “It makes it extra special to me to show my kids this is what hard work looks like, this is where sacrifice gets you. I have a young daughter and being able to think about how these women and female athletes are role models for her. It’s pretty powerful stuff, being able to watch the game through that lens.” 


Team USA alumni are rallying around another squad that will inspire a future generation of Olympic hockey players. 


The respect for this fierce rivalry is wide-ranging and the world is prepared to watch these two powerhouses compete on the Olympic stage. 

 

 

Want to follow Team USA athletes during the Olympic Games Beijing 2022? Visit TeamUSA.org/Beijing-2022-Olympic-Games to view the competition schedule, medal table and results.

Scott Charles


Scott Charles is a sportswriter whose work has been featured in the Associated Press, various NBC platforms and Yahoo! Sports among other places. He is a freelance contributor to TeamUSA.org and you can follow him on Twitter @ScottMCharles.