early Van storylines

Here are some items that are on the top of the reporting list prior to Christmas. Things will surely change before Feb, but it's nice to get a dozen out in text.

1. Wah Chu, father of USA forward Julie Chu, was born in Hong Kong. I'd like to spend time shooting him in Vancouver's Chinatown, discussing his family heritage and all the familiar faces in Vancouver. He has two cousins, Stanley and Janet Wong living in Vancouver. USA opens against China on Feb. 14, and Julie is quite cognizant of the Chinese players' reaction to her (almost one of their own) on the ice. She might have some excellent comments post-game. Wah and Julie are both excellent speakers, this could be a fun international piece, useful for Canadian, U.S. and Chinese viewers.

2. USA has a pair of identical twins, Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux, who survived the Olympic cut. Monique's fiance shipped off to Afghanistan this past November, her letters from the war zone might be fascinating if she shares them, especially if we could shoot her reading them and have the text voiced over as she reads or writes. There have never been U.S. Olympic hockey twins before. Both girls are transferring from the Univ. of Minnesota to North Dakota, but must maintain a full academic course load if they are to be eligible to play next season. They will both have books with them in Vancouver. Incidentally, they are role models for hockey playing twins in the U.S. Two 7th grade hockey playing twins from New Jersey, Abigail and Elizabeth Fournier, will be up in Vancouver rooting them on. This has the makings of a good human interest feature.

3. Arguably the two best forwards in the world, Canada's Hayley Wickenheiser and USA's Jenny Potter, are both mothers, and I would be shocked if their kids didn't make it to Vancouver.

4. Pending the absence of a monumental upset, the bronze medal game will in all likelihood be between Finland and Sweden. Their respective starting goalies, Noora Raty (FIN) and Kim Martin (SWE) are both capable of stealing a round robin game from the big two, Martin beat the U.S. in Torino, and more recently, Raty beat the Americans in September at the Hockey Canada Cup venue test event in Vancouver. These two know each other well from their U.S. college rivalry: Raty plays for U. of Minnesota and Martin for their WCHA rival Minnesota Duluth. Their personalities are polar opposites: Raty talks trash and claims to be the best, Martin quietly defers, is sweet to everyone, and wins NCAA championships. An ideal feature to air prior to the Bronze game.

5. USA coach Mark Johnson: Leading U.S. scorer at Miracle on Ice 1980; Dad was legendary coach Badger Bob who coached 1976 U.S. Olympic team, cutting Mark in the process. Mark has a chance to do something his late father never accomplished, coach a team to an Olympic medal. Bob Johnson did win a Stanley Cup in his last full year coaching before passing away. People close to the Johnsons see a great deal in common between father and son. Mark played in 1980 for his Dad's fiercest rival, Herb Brooks, and had tremendous success. Like Brooks, Johnson's roster is crammed with players from his NCAA team. Brooks had 8 gophers, Johnson has 7 Badgers.

***More family stuff***

6. Switzerland roster also has twin sisters competing at the games, 17 year old Defensemen Laura Benz and forward Sara, both solid players destined for NCAA play in U.S. Laura is being recruited more heavily, Duluth is reportedly a leading contender for her services. The Benz parents are the Swiss team medical doctors.

7.*** Men's hockey story: USA defenseman Ryan Suter is son of Bob Suter who was solid defenseman on 1980 Miracle team. Ryan is only offspring from that club to make another Olympic team. Ryan is projected to challenge former Badger Chris Chelios as the best American defenseman ever; dad will be in Vancouver. I have produced version of this feature for USA Hockey (NGB). B-roll of Ryan checking out Dad in Lake Placid museum exists, probably without rights issues. Suter family received copy of the world Junor footage in 2004. I covered Ryan for 3 straight years at World Junior Championships.

8. This is 50th Anniversary of Squaw Valley Olympics, the only other Winter Games on west coast of North America. USA won first Olympic Hockey Gold in 1960. I have shot dozens of interviews with 1960 Team, and will have access to those who show up in Vancouver, including 86 yr old coach Jack Riley who is still a fun sound bite.

9. Canada Superstar Meghan Agosta is most dynamic player in Games with her breakaway, dashing speed. she has scored 8 goals and 13 points in 10 game pre-Olympic tour vs USA. She will return to Mercyhurst college next year to finish senior season looking to take care of unfinished business: Kazmaier award and NCAA Gold in 2010-2011, coincidentally Mercyhurst will host the 2011 Frozen Four. She is in a position to singlehandedly raise the awareness of women's hockey.

10. Canada has a potential goalie controversy: St. Pierre and Labonte shared time in the spectacular Ottawa tilt vs the U.S. in front of 16,000, and at a former Canadian national team coach thinks Szabodos is the best of the three. edge to St. Pierre base on experience in the big game.

11. Sweden's best player, #72 Elin Holmlov, had back surgery, and can't really skate in practice but has good enough hands to be their most dangerous offensive force.

12. Finland's Michelle Karvinen has similar explosive traits as Canada's Agosta. She lives in Denmark, but commuted to Finland to study and get her passport before returning to Denmark. Dad is a Finn. She can be a one-woman show on the ice.

13. Marie-Philip Poulin youngest player on Team Canada at 18, is one of their most dynamic players. Rival coaches are in awe of Poulin, who will tear up the NCAA next year.

The Legend checks in

With the possible exception of Hobey Baker, Harvard legend Bill Cleary is the most dynamic amateur player in U.S. hockey history. As a player he won Olympic Gold (1960) and Silver (1956) and set an scoring mark with 89 points in 21 games. He returned to his alma mater to coach Harvard in 1968 and became the A.D. in 1990 before retiring in 2001. This superstar of men's hockey now prefers the women's game. "If I was offered a ticket at the Olympics to see either the men or the women, I'd see the women play, absolutely. It's a better game; I like to see the kids make plays, something you don't see in the men's game today."

Cleary used to groom men's players for the Olympics while at Harvard, but that practice vanished onnce the Olympics started using pro's in 1998. "I'm very adamant about the pro's playing. I think it's ruined...it's taken a lot away from the Olympics. Today, what college kid is going to make the Olympics? Not out of school, but the girls will.
"My goal when I coached, I wanted kids that had a chance to play in the Olympics, that's the way I tried to recruit, get kids that maybe could have the same experience that I had." Cleary's experience was rich with precious medals, and in both 1956 and 60 the U.S. team defeated dominant Canada squads. Only two other Harvard Olympic hockey players have pocketed both gold and silver: U.S. defenseman Angela Ruggiero with Gold in 98 and Silver in 2002, and Canada's Jennifer Botterill who actually surpassed Cleary with two gold medals (2006, 2002) and Silver in 1998. Cleary has strong feelings for both women, who helped Harvard to the 1999 National Championship under his watch when they were freshmen roommates.

"Angie (Ruggiero) is terrific, big strong skater, shoots hard, sees the ice, a complete hockey player," said Cleary. "Jen (Botterill) is a terrific person, a great girl. She's got a God-gifted stride, an outstanding skater, reminds me of (Hobey Baker Award winner) Lane MacDonald. She scored the winning goal for us in the national championship game." Actually Botterill's stride was inherited not from God, but her mom Doreen, an Olympic speed skating medalist.

So, who will Cleary root far in the likely scenario of USA vs Canada in the Gold Medal game? "I hope Jennifer plays well, I just hope that Angela plays better!" he says laughing. "Obviously, when the two play you gotta pick one, and I'm picking the U.S., hah hah! No question about that one, gotta go with the red white and blue."

There will be 5 former Harvard women in that projected gold medal game: Ruggiero, Julie Chu and Caitlin Cahow for the U.S., Botterill and Sarah Vaillancourt for Team Canada. "I think it's a compliment to the (Harvard) program," said Cleary. "You got kids playing for Canada and us. That's what I'm so happy about."

The amateur hockey legend who has soured on the men's game, can still find the true spirit of Olympic hockey through the women's game. "I tell you, these kids are very good players, when you go back to 1973 0r 74 when it was a club team, it's like night and day. Now they shoot the puck well, they can skate, they pass the puck, they can stickhandle and the goaltending is excellent. To me, it's a joy to watch."

He'll be among the tens of millions watching worldwide when the Olympic Gold Medal will be decided in Vancouver on February 25.

Human Roadblocks

there are a handful of individuals who could singlehandedly ruin the U.S. chances at Gold in February. In 2006 Swedish goaltender Kim Martin and sniper/captain Maria Rooth sent the Yanks back across the pond with a mere bronze and the frustration of not even qualifying the once-every-four year zenith of the Gold Medal Game. There are players lurking in this tournament that all proponents of USA Hockey should be aware of. And when it comes to 22 year old Canadian sniper Meghan Agosta, Be afraid...be very afraid.

She is a wing/center who still has a year of NCAA eligibility at Mercyhurst (yikes). A flashy skater that had a tendency to pile up chances without finishing, has reversed the trend. She has 4 goals in Canada's three recent victories over the U.S., due to a committed work ethic.

"My goal is to improve every day," Agosta told Donna Spencer of the Canadian Press. "Something I've been working on is shooting harder and picking those corners." Notice to USA fans: Red alert. For a comparable men's player, think Martin Havlat in his prime. Someone who arrives first to loose pucks and advances toward the defending goal at a frightening pace.

"She is at her most dangerous in open ice," says her once and former college coach Mike Sisti from Erie, PA. "Not only is she fast, but she has the fastest, quickest first three steps in the women's game. That's what allows her to get all those breakaways, her quickness. I don't know if she was born with it, but I've never seen anyone with a faster first three steps."

Another skill that is not so easy to observe is Agosta's ability to get free around the opponent's net. "She is really slippery around the net," said Mercyhurst's Sisti. "She's so elusive, she finds pucks, and to be honest, the pucks seem to find her."

Her hockey resume is already a bit of a mind blower, and she wont celebrate her 23rd birthday intil the Olympics commence in February. She has played in an NCAA championship game and was a finalist for the Kazmaier award. Mercyhurst will be hosting next season's frozen Four, and Agosta will be ready to capture that elusive NCAA title and snag the Kaz to go along with at least one Olympic gold medal. Oh Mercy!

She has faced Sweden's Kim Martin and USA's Jesse Vetter in NCAA elimination play, back when she had a tendency to fire bushels of shots into their respective logos (Duluth and Wisconsin). Now she appears to have mastered the art of finding open corners of the net. So when Hayley Wickenheiser is on the ice, there is someone else to look for. Instead of #22, focus instead on #2. When there is a race for the puck, she'll be the one arriving first. Message to opponents of Team Canada--speed kills.

NJ miscellany

Julie's nickname is "Chewie"; Weiland's is "Monkey". Cahow said the story of Weiland's nickname will be revealed later.

Cahow told a hilarious story about her first hockey experience. Her mom had her signed up for figure skating as a youth, and one day getting off the ice she noticed college girls with full hockey equipment and pony tails getting preparing to get on the ice. "That's when I knew I wanted to play hockey," said Cahow. She signed up for a house league, only her mom made her play with old skates. "I played a season with a bicycle helmet and figure skates...the only one on the ice with figure skates! ...If I could make it through that season I could survive anything."

During the demonstration on the FHCD gym floor, all the Olympians had sticks and were firing orange street hockey balls at a hockey net. All the girls were wearing sneakers except the tall, striking blonde Gigi Marvin. Her listed height of 5'8" appears quite short of her actual height, and she chose to wear 3" high heels, that had her towering over her teammates, particularly the 5 foot Lawler, there appeared to be at least a foot differential in their height. Not surprisingly, Marvin's one-time slapshots were flying all around the gym, adding to the giddiness of the jet-lagged athletes.

The tiny Lawler, the one-time reluctant hockey player, has no shortage of personality, and is always the most energetic skater on the ice. Fearless, the 5 foot pepperpot has never shied away from a confrontation, and she LOVES to dance! Her teammates almost talked her into her rendition of Beyonce's dance from the music video "single ladies." there is a small sample of the moves from the Quest tour "All-Access" behind the scenes videos. Aboard a ferry out in the Vancouver Islands she had the camera turned on her for a few seconds and started the routine before returning to her role as shooter.
http://www.qwestallaccess.com/qwesttour/qwest-podcast/
USA Hockey P.R. manager Christy Jeffries calls it "a treat to watch". Her teammates seem to love it.

touching down in Jersey!

5 members of this year's Women's Olympic hockey team (presuming they aren't the final cut) dropped by Far Hills Country Day school for a fundraising visit, having just flown in from Finland. You would never have guessed that Erika Lawler, Gigi Marvin, Caitlin Cahow, Kerry Weiland and Julie Chu had just been spanked by Canada 5-1 in the gold medal game of the Four Nations tournament two days ago. They were all smiles while spending over an hour giving hockey demonstrations, talking about themselves and answering questions. They were so jet-lagged and weary from a 20 hour day that they became giddy and acted as if they were on truth serum.

Chu conceded that she was a "nerd" and a "dork," but they were so close as a team that she didn't mind and the team didn't either. Lawler admitted that she wanted out of hockey a few times growing up, and that her Mom had to push her to continue playing and to go to prep school for a year just to give it a try. "You see, hockey gives you these big leg muscles, and a big butt," said Lawler. "I wanted to have thin little legs that everyone looked at...I wanted to be the girl that boys looked at, not the girl that played on the same team." These were the kind of uninhibited comments you would never hear in a typical press conference.

Far Hills and Bernardsville are the richest towns in the richest county (Morris) in the richest state in the richest country. Weiland tried to get across how unusual her background was. "I come from Palmer, Alaska, farming country just north of Anchorage," she explained to the students who were wearing their uniforms of skirts for girls and blue blazers for boys. "I grew up on a farm, now how many of you have ridden a horse?" Nearly half of the students shot their hands toward the gym ceiling, something Weiland did not expect. Most of the Far Hills riders were trained on English saddles for dressage and riding exhibitions, which is not the kind of horse riding Weiland was referring to, but a connection was made.

Far Hills loves their hockey: they play on co-ed teams, practicing a few miles away at a "Hunt club" (think English saddles chasing hounds) on a rink with no roof. It's quite a romantic throwback, as are the women Olympic players--true amateurs who make lots of personal sacrifices to keep playing the game they love. Marvin talked about growing up in Warroad, Minnesota in a hockey family. "I had skates on at one and a half or two," she said, telling everyone how normal that is in northern Minnesota. "I could stand in my back yard and yell, and they can hear me in Canada, that's how close we are to Canada."

Chu spoke about how special it is to play in Canada, and why she is so geeked for playing the Olympics north of the border. "They love hockey so much in Canada, that they fill NHL rinks when we play them. 18,000 people are rooting against us, but they are rooting FOR women's hockey. It's so loud when we play them, but when we score, the place goes silent, you can hear a pin drop. Now that's cool, silencing 18,000 people." The students were in awe.

When asked about being nervous before games, Weiland and Lawler spoke about concentrating on their breathing to help them stay present. Cahow said that if she weren't nervous before a big game it's time to find a new passion. Chu said that nerves were normal, and a good thing before games. "I get more scared picking up a microphone like this, and speaking in public." Now Julie is a forthright person, but I suspect she was fibbing here to make a point. USA Hockey officials and her father Wah think that politics, maybe even presidential politics, is in her future. She was the youngest class-president at the prestigious Choate-Rosemary Hall prep school, and has NEVER been shy in front of a mic.

I pulled Cahow aside and asked her about the recent stretch that has seen Canada take 3 of the last 4 against the U.S. in impressive fashion. "There's a progression going on," she said, making a hand gesture of a line graph moving up. "It's not where you are in November, it's where you are in February."

So, less than 48 hours after a painful loss, followed by a transatlantic flight into prevailing winds, these 5 athletes were anything but glum. Fresh from a lengthy spa session with ample time perfecting hair and makeup, these girls were the brightest and most energetic faces in a school full of amped up bright lights. Fans and hockey insiders who might have expected gloom and doom were swept up in the enthusiasm and positive energy that is the trademark of American women's hockey.

Now if only they could solve Team Canada's latest addition, scoring sensation Megan Agosta from Mercyhurst College in Pennsylvania. With four goals in her last four games against the U.S. and speed to burn, she is the X-factor that is tipping the scales in Canada's favor these days. 1998 Olympic gold medal heroine Shelly Looney said that Agosta was easy to root against. "According to others, when she was looking at schools, she made lots of demands, like time on every power play. At least that's what I heard."

Cahow had a fresher outlook. "She (Agosta) has learned to be a team player now that she's playing for Team Canada." Cahow conceded how tough she is to play against. They must neutralize her if they are to win the gold.