U.S. women's hockey star: Elusive Olympic gold medal "haunts" team
When Meghan Duggan and Hilary Knight lace up their hockey
skates, a gold rush usually follows.
But at the Olympics, it’s been a different story. Team
USA hasn't won a gold medal in hockey since Nagano in 1998, when the
women's sport gained Olympic status. At the 2010 Games in Vancouver, the team had
to settle for silver. Knight, who at age 20 was the youngest member of that
team, says the players haven't forgotten.
Duggan, 26, calls it "one of the greatest rivalries in sports" and emotions run high when the two teams square off on the ice. After the Americans' crushing loss to Team Canada in the 2012 worlds in Burlington, Vt., Team USA produced a video called "Border War" playing up the heated rivalry. (The Americans would get their revenge, beating Canada at the 2013 worlds in Ottawa to claim the gold).
In tune-up matches for Sochi, Knight has come through big
time against their rival. On Dec. 28, Knight won the game with a
shootout goal and in a rematch two days later, she scored in Team USA’s 3-2
win.
Duggan and Knight downplayed the fights, pointing out that it's part of hockey and the two teams have gotten into scraps before. Still, Knight conceded there is no love lost between the teams.
"We're extremely physical teams and you'll get the best game out of both of us when we're playing against each other, hands down," she said. "It's heated, your blood boils and you just want to put the other girls through the boards and put the puck in the back of the net and win."
While throwing punches in international play may be rare, getting hurt on the ice is not. Duggan was sidelined for 13 months after suffering a concussion in 2011. She recovered with the help of Dr. Ted Carrick, a chiropractor known for working with NHL superstar Sidney Crosby, who missed nearly one year with concussion symptoms.
"I had to battle really hard to come back," said Duggan, who stressed the importance of educating players about concussions. "It's a serious issue and I know it's definitely close to my heart."
It's an issue that also resonates with Caitlin Cahow, Duggan's longtime teammate who recently walked away from the sport after suffering two serious concussions. Cahow, who in December was named to the U.S. delegation for Sochi, said retiring from hockey was a tough decision but she has no regrets.
"It got to the point that I was so scared (after returning)," Cahow said. "I couldn’t handle the risk anymore and I just didn’t want to flip that coin again."
As for Duggan, she is healthy now and excited about the current squad's blend of youth and speed. She says if the team "puts all of the pieces of the puzzle together," the American women can finally end their Olympic gold medal drought.
"I think we can be untouchable," she said.