You probably can’t see it on television, but it is there during their games. You might not figure it out, but it is meaningful.
It is about bonding as a team, and the U.S. women’s hockey players will wear their united front around their necks for their gold-medal game Thursday against rival Canada just as they did during their 4-0 victory over Sweden in the semifinals Tuesday at the E Center.
The item in question is a necklace with a Chinese symbol on the front and the Olympic rings and “2002” printed on the back. Appropriately, it is the brainchild of Cammi Granato, the U.S. captain and Downers Grove native, doing what captains do.
“We started it in August when the team got together,” said Granato, who scored twice against Sweden, including once while flat on her stomach. “I found this symbol in a book of Chinese symbols. I thought it was appropriate because we were going to China (in September as part of their pre-Olympic tour).”
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Granato looked up the meaning of the symbol.
United we stand, she discovered.
Perfect, she thought.
Granato asked her mom, Natalie, to help her find a jeweler who could make the little square charms, then presented them to her teammates and coaches shortly before they came to Utah in their quest for the United States’ second straight gold medal.
For the presentation Granato chose a spot near where they trained in Colorado Springs known as the Garden of the Gods. It is a park filled with majestic red rock formations and Pikes Peak in the background.
“It was a pretty special moment,” winger Katie King said. “It’s something that only this team can put a grasp on.”
The 1998 gold-medal team did something similar, only then it was a bracelet each player strung together for herself out of yarn. They wore their team symbols in their pre-Olympic tour, throughout the Games and well after. Many players, such as Granato, still have the bracelet tucked away with the medal.
Such was the special feeling then. Such is the special feeling now.
Of course, there is the practical matter of beating Canada for the second straight Olympics.
The Americans defeated Canadians all eight times they played during the pre-Olympic tour, outscoring them 31-13. Perhaps most encouraging for the U.S. women was the way they beat Canada on Canadian ice.
Twice they came back from two-goal deficits, once they came back from a one-goal deficit and the other game was a 1-0 shutout by Sara DeCosta.
“We have a great team, a team that never gives up,” alternate captain Karyn Bye said. “You learn from each and every game, whether you win the game, lose the game, come back–you can always take something from each game.”
Eight American players have at least two goals against Canada this season. Canada has only three players who have beaten goalies DeCosta and Sarah Tueting of Winnetka more than once.
In all, the U.S. women have scored four or more goals against Canada five times while giving up as many as three only twice.
No matter that Canada trailed Finland by a goal before exploding for a five-goal third period in a 7-3 semifinal victory Tuesday. These two teams are rivals, and numbers will carry you only so far.
It always has been a one-game tourney for these two teams. It is time for that one game.
And perhaps Granato again will help her U.S. teammates put something new and special around their necks.