Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images
By Kristin Tullo (@K_Tullo)
The U.S. Women’s hockey team has dominated their first two games of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, defeating Finland 3-1 on Saturday and crushing Switzerland 9-0 on Monday. A large part of their early success has been because of the excellent play of several Olympic rookies, so here are three names you’ll want to get familiar with going forward:
Amanda Kessel: @AmandaKessel8
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
With her brother Phil dominating the NHL as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs as well as the U.S. men’s hockey team, Amanda Kessel is one of the more familiar names on the women’s roster and although it’s only been two games, she’s living up to the expectations that the U.S. had of her.
In her second Olympic appearance, Kessel was a nightmare for the Switzerland team who had a hard time defending the speedy 22-year-old. Even when she wasn’t scoring, she was scoring and ended the day with a four-point performance by scoring two goals in the opening period and adding two helpers before the final buzzer.
Her first goal of the day- and her Olympic career- came just seconds after Brianna Decker made it 2-0 over Switzerland, giving the U.S. a record-shattering three-goals and in 55 seconds. Picking up the puck off the faceoff, passing it off the boards to herself and blowing by everyone en route to the net, Kessel is as good as advertised.
It may be premature, but I’m officially nominating the Kessel’s as “America’s Family”.
Megan Bozek: @Meganebozek
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What’s a Kessel without a Bozak Bozek?
Bozek came into the 2014 Olympic Games having played 37 games with the United States National team where she collected 30 points and has added two more through her first two preliminary games where she has registered an assist in each game.
She has one of, if not the hardest shots on Team USA’s blueline and hasn’t been afraid to let it rip. Her first assist on Saturday came off of a blast from the point where she purposely banked it off the end boards, sending it to the front of the net where it eventually found Kelli Stack who banked it home with some help from her shoulder.
Hopefully she keeps shooting so we can get #BombsByBozek trending.
Kendall Coyne: @KendallCoyne
Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images
If Amanda Kessel isn’t scoring, it’s because her linemate Kendall Coyne is.
Held without a point in her first Olympic appearance against Finland over the weekend, Coyne all but made up for it by having herself a four-point performance on Monday against Switzerland where she potted a pair of third period goals after tallying two helpers on both of Kessel’s first period goals.
As a sophomore at Northeastern University, Coyne became the 22nd player to record 100 points in her career and just the third to do so in les than two seasons. Through 65 games with the Huskies, the 21-year-old forward has 63 goals and 113 points.
And she’s the player nobody is even talking about.
Related Olympic Coverage from The Hockey Guys:
USA tops Finland 3-1 in 2014 Olympic opener
Jessie Vetter to start in goal for Team USA vs Finland
Meghan Duggan ready to lead Team USA into Sochi Olympics
Hilary Knight, Team USA prepare to win back gold in Sochi
Stats courtesy of USA Hockey
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