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.