On a team full of young stars, it was two of the United States' most seasoned veterans coming through when it mattered most.
After captain Hillary Knight tied the game late in regulation, defender Megan Keller delivered the dazzling game-winner in overtime, lifting the U.S. to Olympic gold over Team Canada, 2-1. It marked Team USA's third gold medal in women's hockey.
With the win, two New England natives captured gold. Veteran forward Alex Carpenter (North Reading, Mass.) took home her first gold and third medal in her third Olympics. It was also defender Caroline Harvey's (Salem, N.H.) first gold and second medal in her second games.
Carpenter, a former prep standout at Governor's Academy and a collegiate star at Boston College, finished the tournament with six points (three goals) in seven games. She has nine points in 14 games for the PWHL's Seattle Torrent this season. Harvey, a former NAHA standout and a two-time national champion at Wisconsin, had nine points (two goals) in the tournament. She has 54 points in 26 games for the Badgers this season.
The New England connections ran much deeper than just Carpenter and Harvey, though.
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Keller, a former BC star, had nine points (three goals) in seven games. She has 11 points in 14 games on the blue line for the Boston Fleet this season. Knight, meanwhile, played her prep hockey at Choate. The former Fleet captain has 10 points in 14 games this season as captain of the Torrent.
Former BC stars Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes were also key pieces for Team USA. Bilka, currently a forward with the Torrent, had seven points (four goals) in seven games for the U.S. Barnes, who played her prep hockey at New Hampton, had one goal in the tournament. She also plays for Seattle.
Northeastern had more than its fair share of representation, too, as four former Huskies took home gold.
Fleet goalie Aerin Frankel backstopped the U.S. with a .980 save percentage, a 0.39 goals-against average and three shutouts, going 5-0-0 in her appearances. Ottawa Charge goalie Gwyneth Phillips went 2-0-0, too.
Former NU captain and current Minnesota Frost forward Kendall Coyne Schofield had three goals in seven games for the U.S. Montreal Victoire forward Hayley Scamurra also scored three goals.
Boston Fleet forward Haley Winn had four points (one goal) for the tournament. Penn State captain Tessa Janecke, who played for NAHA, had five assists in seven games.
It was the second gold medal for each of Coyne Schofield, Barnes, Knight and Keller, too, after they helped the U.S. defeat Canada in PyeongChang in 2018.
