Ruggiero and USA Look for Three-Peat at Worlds
The following blog, written by former Harvard standout Angela Ruggiero, appeared April 25 on the Women's Hockey Life Web site.
By Angela Ruggiero
Well, Team USA is 4-0 thus far in the 2011 IIHF World Women’s Championship. All we need is one more win to capture the title and three-peat as the gold medalists (we won both the 2008 and 2009 world championships). The past few weeks have been tough at times, yet we have been able to work on the things that we need to do to prepare to play our best out here in Zurich, Switzerland. The funny thing is that most of the preparation occurs throughout the rest of the year…and up until this point in our lives. When we get to the tournament, all we can do is to try to bring it all together, so that the entire team is on the same page. The goal is to execute the coaches’ plan and play as a team.
I am really excited for the gold-medal game. Although I am playing in my 10th world championship, the feeling of wearing my nation’s colors never gets old. This is our Stanley Cup…except that we don’t get to play in a seven-game series like the men. This fact raises the stakes and really makes every shift you skate that much more important. Whichever team shows up in these games is usually the winner. Thus, being prepared, playing with confidence (which comes with preparation) and playing as a team are the things I believe make all the difference.
Complete article can be accessed via the Women's Hockey Life Web site by clicking here.
