On Feb. 25 Canada claimed the gold medal over the United States with a 2-0 victory in the women's hockey final at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. On Nov. 9, Team USA claimed a small token of revenge.
Nine months after falling to Canada on the world's stage, the U.S. women's select team, which included a number of players from that Olympic team, defeated their biggest rivals 3-2 with a shootout victory at the Four Nations Cup in St. John's, Newfoundland. The player who scored the game-winning shootout goal: Wisconsin junior forward Hilary Knight.
Knight was one of three current Wisconsin women's hockey players who represented their country last week at the annual tournament between the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Finland. After splitting a Nov. 5 and 6 series against Minnesota, Knight, along with senior forward Meghan Duggan and sophomore forward Brianna Decker, traveled to join the women's select team.
The Americans opened the tournament by topping their Canadian rivals in their first rematch since the gold medal game. And although they would later fall to Canada in the championship final, Knight said the win was rewarding.
""It's always nice to beat Canada, whether it's the first game of the tournament or the fourth,"" Knight said.
Knight and Duggan took last season off so they could play with the U.S. Olympic team, and watched Canada take gold last February. Before the game Duggan said there was ""a lot of hype in the building and a lot of hype running through all of the players.""
""Any time you're competing for your country the emotions come with that,"" she said. ""It was nice for us, a little rematch and revenge for last February.""
The U.S. team opened the tournament with a victory over Sweden Nov. 5, before the Badgers were able to join. After beating Canada, the Americans topped Finland and Sweden 4-0, before falling to the Canadians 3-2 in overtime of the tournament final.
Duggan racked up three goals and two assists during the tournament, making her Team USA's leading scorer.
Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson, who was behind the bench for USA Hockey in Vancouver but did not coach at the Four Nations, said the tournament helped players learn to play at a higher level while representing their country.
""It gives them that opportunity to put that USA jersey on, and anytime a player gets a chance to do that it's exciting for them,"" Johnson said. ""It's a thrill, it's exciting, and they come back and they're better players because of the experience.""
Although she had played with USA Hockey at lower age levels in the past, the Four Nations was Decker's first chance to play with the U.S. select team. She said the international game is quicker and more physical than the college level, and she had to adapt to that speed.
""Going into it, I knew it would be a lot faster pace, so I knew what to expect but it was a little bit of a surprise in the first practice,"" said Decker, who posted a goal and three assists in the tournament.
Knight said the high-caliber athletes representing their countries at tournaments like the Four Nations provide competition that makes players better when they return to the college ranks.
""It's the best of the best,"" she said. ""It's college level to a heightened extent of skill.""
""When you come back to college you have more time to read and react.""
While the tournament helped Duggan, Decker and Knight improve their game, it certainly was not as relaxing as the bye week their Badger teammates had after a tough, physical series against Minnesota. With two games in Minneapolis and another four in the tournament, the trio played six games of hockey in just over a week, and will face Robert Morris on the road this weekend.
Despite the fatigue that comes with playing so many games against quality opponents in a short time span, Duggan said the thrill of playing with Team USA is worth the extra work.
""It's a choice we made to travel there and play with that team and I love every second of it,"" she said. ""No matter how tired I get I wouldn't trade it for anything.""
