Brianna Decker won’t be able to continue at the Olympic Winter Games after suffering a leg injury.
photo: Matt Zambonin / HHOF-IIHF Images
USA forward Brianna Decker is out of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 after suffering a leg injury in the defending champions’ opening game of the women’s ice hockey tournament on Thursday at Wukesong Sports Centre.
Decker became entangled with Finland’s Ronja Savolainen midway through the first period and trapped her leg under the Finn as they fell to the ice. She was attended to by medical staff and taken off the ice on a stretcher.
USA Hockey announced after the game that Decker, an assistant captain, will not return to the competition.
"It was sickening," Amanda Kessel said of Decker’s cries of pain as she lay on the ice.
“She’s one of the toughest players that I’ve ever played with or against, so you know she’s not staying down on the ice or crying when it’s not bad. So it’s definitely a gut punch. We want to win for her.”
The USA won the game 5-2 and Decker, 30, was standing on crutches and wearing a stabilizing boot on her left leg at the exit as the players left the ice. Many of them, including Savolainen, took time to wish her well.
Decker became entangled with Finland’s Ronja Savolainen midway through the first period and trapped her leg under the Finn as they fell to the ice. She was attended to by medical staff and taken off the ice on a stretcher.
USA Hockey announced after the game that Decker, an assistant captain, will not return to the competition.
"It was sickening," Amanda Kessel said of Decker’s cries of pain as she lay on the ice.
“She’s one of the toughest players that I’ve ever played with or against, so you know she’s not staying down on the ice or crying when it’s not bad. So it’s definitely a gut punch. We want to win for her.”
The USA won the game 5-2 and Decker, 30, was standing on crutches and wearing a stabilizing boot on her left leg at the exit as the players left the ice. Many of them, including Savolainen, took time to wish her well.