In the marquee match-up on 6 April, the defending Olympic champion Americans will square off against archrival Canada. It’s their first battle in official IIHF competition since the climactic 3-2 U.S. shootout victory in the PyeongChang gold medal game.
Let’s take a moment to relive the emotions of arguably the most exciting women’s hockey game ever, through the eyes of the women who made it happen. This is what key players had to say right after the U.S. earned its first Winter Games hockey gold since Nagano on 22 February, 2018.
Kendall Coyne Schofield (USA)
On following in the footsteps of the original 1998 U.S. Olympic gold-medal team
It gives me the chills. It’s unbelievable. A lot of us are here because of the ‘98 team. We were inspired by their win, their victory. So hopefully there’s a ton of girls that pick up hockey in the United States and all over the world. This was a tremendous win and the future generations are really hopefully going to soar from it as well.
On how Brianna Decker bounced back after getting flattened by Marie-Philip Poulin
It was a big hit, but she’s a tough player. I’ve played with her for about seven years and I knew she’d get right back up and wouldn’t let it affect her.
Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson (USA)
On scoring the shootout winner on Canada’s Shannon Szabados with her “Oops! I Did It Again” move
I was told after the fourth shooter that I was going to be the sixth one if it came to that. Coach [Robb] Stauber asked if I wanted it and I said: “Absolutely.” I came in on a few inside edges, coming in slow. I knew that was what I was going to do. Szabados is a great goalie. She’s an amazing goalie. I knew I had to sell the shot, and I did.
On winning Olympic gold with her twin sister Monique
It’s been a part of our dream to do this together, side by side. We’ve pushed each other since we were little, and our brothers have kicked our butts along the way. Just to contribute the way we did today, we prepared to do it with this team. We’re a special group. What we’ve gone through in the last year, it means the world.
Gigi Marvin (USA)
On the 2018 American team’s mindset
We’ve mentioned the whole time, our opponent is never the other team we’re facing. It’s always the doubt. It’s always the biggest thing – the doubt and the fear. So we were able to push everything away. Up 1-0, then give up two goals. Tie it. Then we’re in a shootout. How many opportunities do you have to mentally just kind of cave? We didn’t. We crushed the fear and crushed the doubt. We trusted in what was to come.
Hilary Knight (USA)
On the vibe prior to OT and the shootout
This team’s great. I love this team. We’re just so powerful. We were in the locker room, like, “All right. Let’s go.” Jumping around on the bench before the shootout like this is just another shootout. It’s crazy that it’s come down to this, but we’re going to win. There’s no doubt.
Brianna Decker (USA)
On goalie Maddie Rooney’s winning performance in the shootout
Honestly, it didn’t surprise me. I knew she was going to play unstoppable, and in the shootout she was unbelievable. I pointed right at her when [Meghan] Agosta was going for her next shot and I was like, “You got this.” She knew she had it.
Meghan Agosta (CAN)
On the feeling in the Canadian room after settling for silver
It hurts any time we lose against them. We had one goal at the beginning of the year and that’s to win gold. We made it here and it’s not the ending we wanted, but we have to be proud of ourselves and hold our heads high. I know every single one of us is in shock that it came down to this. But I know I’m proud of every single one of my teammates.
Marie-Philip Poulin (CAN)
On her big-picture take-away from the Olympic final
Every time when you step on the ice against them, you know it’s going to be a battle. We showed it again tonight. It was really tight until the end. It just showed how much women’s hockey is growing. It’s getting faster by the year.