Right out of the box, a US women’s hockey star from what many consider the greatest university, was injured against Finland. That means the university is down to ten players competing in this Olympics that have school ties; 4 US and 6 Canadian. Speaking of Canadian, there is a hockey player from Baddeck. Everyone in the family is or someday will be familiar with that Bras d’Or town. It is close to the heart of Papa’s universe. I don’t know how it works but she is on the Chinese team by way of the U of Minny-Duluth.
Papa’s hometown was once the source of many USA speedskating Olympians. In the 1940’s/50’s the director of recreation started a team that raced on frozen lagoons in the area. Many of those kids dominated speed skating on a national level. The Pettit indoor oval is located back home and it is still a big training facility and site of competitions. But, many ice skaters now have in-line skating backgrounds; such as from Florida. Not much outdoor ice in the Sunshine State. Back home in the winter, playgrounds were flooded with water inside snow banks to create rinks. A current US Olympian’s dad plowed an oval on the family pond for training. He’s still young but who knows? Watch Jordan Stolz if you view any Olympics besides hockey with players from a marvelous university. Florida a pipline to speedskating team? How times have changed. But, Wisconsin still feeds the Curling team.