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.