COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team will be inducted into the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2017, it was announced today by the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation. The group will be formally enshrined on Tuesday, October 24, at The Broadmoor World Arena.
The 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team became the first-ever Olympic champion in women’s ice hockey with a 3-1 victory over Canada in the gold-medal game at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.
Team USA finished the tournament undefeated (6-0-0/W-L-T) while outscoring its opponents, 36-8. Cammi Granato, Karyn Bye, Katie King-Crowley and Gretchen Ulion led the U.S. with eight points each, while goalies Sarah Tueting and Sara DeCosta each earned three victories in net for Team USA. The U.S. was guided by head coach Ben Smith.
The gold medal-winning team was also inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.
The 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team will be inducted alongside Chuck Wielgus, The Donner Family, Henry “Hank” Egan, Pat Garrity and Janine Szpara. In addition, Mitch Johnson will receive the Col. F. Don Miller Sports Service Award, the El Pomar Foundation will receive the Thayer Tutt Sportsman Award and Bernard Sandoval will be given the Special Recognition Award.
