I know, I know, the Team USA Women’s Hockey roster was released on January 1st. In all fairness, I wasn’t writing then. So, let’s pretend this just happened and take a peek at the roster.
The Team USA women’s hockey team is ready to defend their Gold medal title in the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. As we gear up for the Games, set to begin on Feb. 4, let’s take a few moments to meet the Team USA hockey roster.
The Expectations are High
The Gold Medal game of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics came down to a thrilling shootout between Hockey Canada and Team USA. The six-round shootout win was sealed with a beautiful goal from Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson. Combined with an amazing performance by Maddie Rooney, Team USA captured Gold again after nearly 20 years. For years it seemed Team USA was always the bridesmaid, and never the bride. After capturing the first Gold Medal ever for women’s hockey in 1998, Team USA settled for three Silver and one Bronze in the following four Winter Games. Building a powerhouse roster of talent and speed for 2018, they finally claimed the top prize, another Gold. Heading to the 2022 Games, they are looking to repeat their 2018 success. With this roster, they are absolutely a team to watch out for.
The Forwards
Team USA has an impressive group of forwards in this group. One that is not only filled with skill but also a frightening amount of speed. Returning to the Olympic stage are the familiar names of Kendall Coyne Schofield, Amanda Kessel, and Hilary Knight.
Kendall Coyne Schofield
When you talk about speed on the ice, the first name that comes to mind has to be Kendall Coyne Schofield. In 2019, she became the first woman to participate in the NHL All-Star festivities when she stepped in for Nathan MacKinnon in the Fastest Skater competition. She put up an impressive time of 14.346 seconds, a mere second slower than Connor McDavid. Not only is Coyne Schofield fast, but she also has an impressive hockey IQ. She can find open space, and make things happen. As Captain of the 2022 squad, she has the opportunity to lead another team to success on the world stage.
Amanda Kessel
Another Team USA Olympian with a set of afterburners to be envied is Amanda Kessel. In her third Olympic appearance, Kessel is looking to generate a little more offense than she has recently. Possessing a positively lethal shot, she can absolutely make plays happen any time the puck is on her stick. Her Olympic dreams almost ended after the 2014 Games in Sochi. Suffering a concussion in the Games, she was unsure if she would be able to play again. She was able to return before the 2018 Games and helped her team bring home Gold with a clutch goal that kept them alive in the shootout. Team USA is looking for her to use her speed and shot to bring home more hardware.
Hilary Knight
Hilary Knight, another three-time Olympian, is ready to pull on the Team USA jersey for the 2022 Games. Knight has been a presence on Team USA rosters since she competed in 2006 on the Under-22 Series versus Canada. She had an impressive showing at the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship scoring four goals and adding two helpers.
The forward group for Team USA is filled with depth, and uniquely designed for a tournament like the Olympics. From the offensive abilities of Grace Zumwinkle, Dani Cameranesi, and Jesse Compher, to the depth production of Kelly Pannek, Hayley Scamurra, and Hannah Brandt, Team USA is ready to shine. Not to forget they also have one of the best centers in the game, Brianna Decker. Alex Carpenter is also making her return to the Olympics after not making the roster for the 2018 Games.
There are some very notable younger members of the squad as well. Abbey Murphy is one of the two teenagers on the roster. Murphy had an impressive freshman season at the University of Minnesota, with eight goals and 10 assists in 20 games. Abby Roque is the first Indigenous woman to play for Team USA Women’s Hockey. Roque, an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin, averaged over a point-per-game in three of her four seasons for Wisconsin.
The Defense
On the blue line, there is a perfect mix of Olympic veterans and first-timers. With returning Olympians in Lee Stecklein, Megan Keller, Cayla Barnes, and Megan Bozek, Team USA has a strong and calming group on the backend with a variety of experiences. Joined by Olympic newcomers Jincy Dunne, Savannah Harmon, and Caroline Harvey, this group of defenders is filled with champions who are hungry for another title.
Lee Stecklein
Stecklein is touted as the major calming influence on defense. She is used to making big plays on big stages. She scored the game-winning goal for the Whitecaps as they secured the 2019 Isobel Cup and brought three National Championships to the University of Minnesota. Finally, she is the only three-time Olympian on the backend, and her experience will be an asset to the group.
Megan Keller
It seemed like there wasn’t a time Megan Keller wasn’t on the ice in 2018, she averaged over 21 minutes of ice time in the Games. Keller is not afraid to take the shot when the puck is on her stick. She finished her collegiate career at Boston College with several mentions in the record books for defenders and holds the record for highest points, goals, and assists for the school. Remaining a crucial part of this squad, Keller is expected to put up big minutes in crucial moments in 2022.
Cayla Barnes
Appearing in her second consecutive Olympics, Cayla Barnes is the kind of leader you want on the bench. She may not have a letter on her sweater, but she has proven time and time again that she is a leader in her career. Named the Captain of her collegiate squad, she is one of 10 to be given the honor as a junior. She also helped bring back-to-back-to-back Gold medals in the IIHF Under-18 Championships for Team USA.
The Goaltenders
Any Team USA Women’s Hockey fan should immediately recognize the three goaltenders chosen to represent at the 2022 Olympics. Nicole Hensley, Alex Cavallini, and Maddie Rooney have been the go-to goaltenders for Team USA for the last several years. Part of the resurgence of success for Team USA is due in large part to these three crease guardians. Their combined and individual stats are all impressive, and Team USA will be looking to them to again bring home Gold.
There are a lot of high expectations for the 2022 Team USA Women’s Hockey team. Winning back-to-back Gold medals is not yet something Team USA has been able to accomplish since Women’s Hockey entered the Winter Olympics in 1998. With a roster full of depth, talent, and a history of winning on the international stage, the Women’s Hockey competition will be the one to watch.
For more coverage on the upcoming Winter Olympics, be sure to check out Beyond Women’s Sports. You can follow me on Twitter for more on women’s hockey in the PHF and on the Olympic stage.
