Dennis Sodomka is covering the Winter Olympics for Morris News Service. He is executive editor of The Augusta Chronicle.

A moment to remember for Americans

Web posted February 18, 1998

By Dennis Sodomka
Morris News Service

NAGANO, Japan -- This is a team for the ages, this gold medal U.S. women's hockey team. It's a team you'll be telling your children about.

Remember the ``Miracle on Ice'' gold medal team from 1980 when a young U.S. team beat a powerhouse Soviet team? These women are just as big a miracle.

They've worked, and scrapped and fought for years to show that they belong in the Olympics. Most of them started out on teams with their brothers because there were no girls teams. They had to get past a Canadian team that has won the world championship the last four years.

Canada is a country where hockey is a religion, where losing the first Olympic championship is grounds for excommunication. But these Americans did it, they earned their place in history with a style and grace rarely seen in sports today.

``I'm just getting used to being a role model, I'm not sure I'm ready for the history thing,'' said Sarah Tueting, who was an impenetrable wall in goal in the 3-1 win over Canada on Tuesday.

``I hope the kids who saw this game will go home and work hard and make their dreams come true,'' said Karyn Bye, one of the top scorers on the team. ``Whether it's to make the Olympics, or to make their peewee team or whatever, they can do it.

``Because here, this is a dream come true, baby,'' she said gripping the gold medal hanging around her neck.

They talked about dreams coming true, about hard work and sacrifice. They waved flags and wrapped themselves inside the flag. Tueting reminded people of Jim Craig, the goalie on the gold medal team from 1980 who wrapped himself in a flag and skated around looking for his dad, just as she did Tuesday night.

Tueting wanted to talk about her fellow goalie, Sara DeCosta, who might have started in the Canada game. Coach Ben Smith wouldn't say it, but you had to wonder if he didn't go with Tueting because she is so intense, so emotional and he knew he needed a big game in goal.

The Americans had to win this game. They had invested too much in the quest to come up short. They didn't need another silver medal.

``This should be a message for the kids to never give up,'' said Bye. ``I have three silver medals from world championships, and I never gave up.

This medal means more than any of those others. This means more to me than anything.''

The moment was so full of magic that even the pugnacious Canadian coach, Shannon Miller, mellowed out and reflected on what had happened.

``Interestingly enough, when they showed Cammi Granato's face on the big TV screen and the Olympic gold medal going around her neck, my feelings changed very quickly inside me,'' she said. ``And I had a feeling of joy going through my body because what I realized was that an Olympic gold medal is being hung around a female hockey player. And I couldn't believe the impact it had on me.''

The Americans and the Canadiens had fought through a 15-game series over the last several months. Most games were close. All were physical. Going into the Olympics, Canada led, 7-6. All the United States had was dedication and a belief in themselves. That was enough. Now these women, these Olympic champions, believe they can take on any challenge.

``I'll take a lot away from this experience,'' said Tueting, who will return to school at Dartmouth. ``I'll have the confidence that comes with chasing a dream and having it come true. That makes you think you can do anything.''

Who out there could tell them otherwise?