BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – A wide array of fans of all ages streaming the games played between the Team USA and Team Canada in the “Rivalry Series” were given an amazing showcase of what is going on in Women’s hockey.
Among the crowd of 7,126 were grandmothers and grandfathers as they sat with their grandchildren. There were mothers and fathers sitting with their sons and daughters all waving American flags that were provided to them prior to the start of the second annual Rivalry Series that kicked off at the XL Center on Saturday night.
The power of the crowd was important as they inspired Team USA on to a 4-1 win over Team Canada.
“It was awesome to see all those fans out there, and (all) the young girls with their U-S-A chants. Anytime you get to play on your home soil, its always fun.”
USA jerseys were abundantly adorned among the fans throughout the XL Center. There was even Charlie McAvoy’s (Boston Bruins) number 25 worn in tribute to his time on the gold-medal winning Team USA squads he played for at the World Juniors. Another young boy and girl each wore a USA number 21. Mike Eruzione’s jersey.
Obviously they weren’t born back in 1980 when Eruzione lifted the entire nation out of it’s collective depression scoring, “The Goal Heard Around The World,” that allowed the USA to complete “The Miracle on Ice” when they defeated the mighty Soviets in the 1980 Olympics in the now aptly named, Herb Brooks Arena, in Lake Placid, NY.
Another young girl was in her local, Northern Lights (Simsbury) jersey. She had skated with several Team USA players two days earlier at the International Ice Skating Center. The programs in Simsbury, Cromwell, and Bolton all run by former Hartford Whaler and New Haven Nighthawk, Bob Crawford.
There were so many young girls in their hometown hockey program jerseys. Some of them came as much as an hour away from Hartford in Old Lyme, and Old Saybrook. It was not lost on defender, Megan Keller of Farmington Hills, Michigan.
“Hopefully, we’re inspiring this younger generation just like the girls who came before us did for us.”
The hope is clearly to bring the next generation and continue to grow the game larger than the previous generation. With the Northern Lights, the Lady Jr. Wolf Pack, and three high school programs now, they number between 350-400 and are moving in that direction.
Three-time Olympian Hilary Knight, whose start came in Connecticut came with the Connecticut Polar Bears, which for some time was the only all girls program in this Tri-State region.
“We had our alumni dropping the ceremonial puck tonight. They were our inspirations. We’re building off of their shoulders. I know some of those girls (in the crowd) are they’re gonna be filling our skates pretty soon.”
But apart from what happened on the ice, off the ice, it’s also exceptionally important that they continue to build their brand.
“This is a big series for us. In a second year of this, we’re playing not only for our country, but a trophy. It means something. I really like how this is spread out all over North America. Last year, it was three games. This year it’s five. Maybe next year, it’s seven?” Amanda Kessel said.
The game in Hartford was televised nationally by NBC Sports Network. Tuesday’s night game in Moncton, New Brunswick was broadcast on the NHL Network. The US also won that game by a 2-1 score. It gave them a 2-0 lead in the series.
That was not lost on Keller who thought is was extremely important that have the games on television. “To play these games and have them on TV is awesome to see our sport continue to grow,” She said. “We have the honor to play for our country and to play elite caliber hockey and is something we don’t take lightly.”
While Team Canada is a more experienced lineup, the US roster is a mixture of available veterans and younger talent. The US roster will likely look slightly differently when the series resumes in Victoria, BC and Vancouver, BC and concludes in Anaheim, CA in February. Team USA’s roster will be adding some collegiate talent that’s unavailable to them now. The Canadians will also be looking to add some younger players as well, as they hope to change their fortunes come early February.
One of the US newcomers is Abby Roque. She scored on Saturday in Hartford and then again on Tuesday in Moncton, on the game’s first shot. She’s a perfect example of the new generation of players coming on board.
In a few years time, the USA jerseys that carry the names of Kessel, Keller, Knight, Alex Carpenter, and Alex Cavallini will be worn by an ever larger, growing legion of this generation of women’s hockey fans, to which they added many more Saturday night.
Their play on the ice in Hartford was sure to instill the inspiration that Keller mentioned as many of the young girls in attendance quite possibly left the building with the dream of one day winning an Olympic gold medal as part of Team USA.
NOTE:
The Women’s Rivalry Series was not the first time a game of this magnitude was played in this building. The first came almost two generations ago when the Soviets, (Russians) came to the Hartford Civic Center, as it was known then, to play the WHA’s New England Whalers, another landmark hockey historical moment in Hartford.
