More than one-third of the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team headed to Beijing has New England connections.
Nine of the 23 players either hail from the area, attend college in the region, graduated from an area school, or played professionally here.
Expectations are high. The Americans struck gold four years ago in a memorable shootout victory over rival Canada.
Women’s hockey became an Olympic sport in 1998 and the U.S. has medaled in all six previous Winter Games, netting two golds, three silvers and one bronze.
All of the U.S. players have either played, currently play or are committed to an NCAA school.
The U.S. is set to open play on Feb. 3 vs. Finland. The U.S. and Canada are the overwhelming favorites to meet for the gold again. Here’s a look at the U.S. players, in alphabetical order, with local connections.
Cayla Barnes
The Boston College redshirt senior has played four seasons at BC, netting 14 goals and 56 points.
A 5-foot-2, 138-pound defenseman, Barnes hails from Eastvale, Calif. Barnes tallied 155 points in 112 games at the New Hampton School prior to enrolling at The Heights. This will be her second Olympic experience - she was on the 2018 gold medal-winning team.
Caroline Harvey
The youngest player on the U.S. team is a native of Salem, N.H. Expectations are high for the smooth-skating 5-8, 160-pound defenseman.
Despite her youth, the 19-year-old Harvey can be a difference maker. Harvey, who models her game after Torey Krug, helped the U.S. win the silver medal at the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
She will take her talents to the University of Wisconsin after the Olympics. Growing up, she played on Massachusetts junior teams in Worcester, Kingston and Bedford.
Megan Keller
A 5-11, 165-pound defenseman from Farmington, Mich., Keller starred at Boston College from 2014-19.
She was named the Hockey East Player of the Year following the 2018-19 campaign. Keller played well for the U.S. when it struck gold four years ago, collecting two assists and skating in all five games.
Brianna Decker
Local fans remember Decker suiting up for a pair of Boston professional teams.
The 5-4, 148-pound forward starred for the Boston Blades (2014-15) and Boston Pride (2015-17).
Hayley Scamurra
Scamurra tallied 111 points in 123 games at Northeastern University from 2013-17, carving out a reputation as an elite defensive forward.
The 5-8 skater from Getzville, N.Y., has represented the U.S. in two international tournaments. She helped the Americans win gold at the 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship and silver in the 2021 event.
Jesse Compher
Compher brought Boston University fans out of their seats from 2017-21, netting 127 points in 109 games.
A native of Northbrook, Ill., Compher is a 5-8, 150-pound forward. Like Scamurra, she was a major reason the U.S. won gold and silver at the 2019 and 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship, respectively. Her brother, J.T. Compher, plays for the Colorado Avalanche.
Hilary Knight
The oldest and most accomplished player on the U.S. roster, the 32-year-old Knight has played on a pair of Boston professional teams. Knight is set to play in her record-tying fourth Winter Games, having already represented the U.S. in 2010, 2014 and 2018.
She exhibited her talents for the Boston Blades (2012-15) and Boston Pride (2015-17).
Alex Carpenter
The lone Massachusetts (North Reading) player to make the team, Carpenter is no stranger to international play.
She tallied a 4-1-5 line in five games as the U.S. won the silver medal at the 2014 Winter Games, but was not on the roster four years later. Carpenter terrorized enemy goaltenders while at Boston College from 2011-16.
She scored 134 goals and 279 points in 150 games. Carpenter played at Governor’s Academy prior to college and also starred for the Boston Pride (2016-17) for one season.
Kendall Coyne Schofield
Schofield, a Northeastern University graduate, will be playing in her third Olympics.
In 10 Olympic games, the 5-2, 125-pound forward has nine points after having helped the U.S. earn silver in 2014 and gold in 2018. The crafty Schofield displayed her offensive skill at Northeastern, netting 141 goals and 249 points in 133 games during her days on Huntington Avenue.
Prediction
The U.S. and Canada will - again - meet in the gold medal game.
But, unlike four years ago, it will be Canada celebrating in Beijing on Feb. 17. Both teams are loaded with talent and experience.
But only one team has “Captain Clutch.” That’s the nickname given to Canada superstar Marie-Philip Poulin, who scored 181 points at Boston University from 2010-15.
Poulin rises to the occasion when the stakes are the greatest and she’ll be the difference, maybe even in overtime, in China. Poulin has scored in three straight gold medal games, making history, and she netted the game-winner as Canada won in 2010 and 2014.
She also tallied the overtime winner as Canada topped the U.S., 3-2, in the 2021 IIHF World Championship title game.
