COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The gold medal-winning 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team was formally enshrined in the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame tonight (Oct. 24) at the 18th Annual Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame at The Broadmoor World Arena.
“That team will always be the first to win gold in the Olympics and the victory over Canada in the final game is one of the signature moments in USA Hockey history,” said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. “The success of our ’98 women’s Olympic team has been a significant catalyst for growth in our sport and their positive impact on the sport continues today.”
The 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team became the first-ever champion in Olympic 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 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.
Team USA was inducted alongside Chuck Wielgus, The Donner Family, Henry “Hank” Egan, Pat Garrity and Janine Szpara. In addition, Mitch Johnson received the Col. F. Don Miller Sports Service Award, the El Pomar Foundation was presented the Thayer Tutt Sportsman Award and Bernard Sandoval was honored with the Special Recognition Award.
NOTES: The 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009 … The 20-year anniversary of the team’s gold-medal triumph will come on Feb. 17, 2018.
(USA Hockey hockey photo)
