Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

SPORTS Friday 1 december 2017
A23
Olimpic Gold

Continued from Page 18 earn around $71,000 an-
Knight says a delicate bal- nually. They previously only
ance is required. earned $1,000 a month in
“After a win like that on the six months before the
both fronts, you sort of Olympics.
feel untouchable,” Knight They’ll receive similar
said. “You’ve changed the health insurance, travel
world. You’re hoping that and $50 per diem as the
you’ve changed the other men. A women’s advisory
industries for the better. But group also is supposed to
also, too, realizing you have feature former and current
to have humility and the players to help grow wom-
opponent’s right around en’s hockey.
the corner, building, work- Winning gold would mean
ing, doing the same things combined bonuses of
you’re doing, and every $57,500 from the U.S. Olym-
time you show up at the pic Committee and USA
rink it’s a 50-50 battle and Hockey.
you’ve got to be at the top “It’s been great to see
of that battle.” progress since then, where
Canada has won four USA team athletes can In this April 7, 2017, file photo, U.S. forward Meghan Duggan, left, defender Monique Lamoureux,
straight Olympic gold med- just play hockey,” ex-Har- center, and forward Brianna Decker pose with the winner’s trophy after the team defeated Cana-
als since 1998, with the U.S. vard player Ruggiero said. da 3-2 in overtime in the women’s world hockey championships in Plymouth, Mich.
teams finishing with three “That’s not to say you’ll Associated Press
silver and a bronze. make a lot of money, but it U.S. coach Robb Stauber er at 30, said the Americans about themselves through
Earning better benefits defers some of the expense said the players’ unity was already have established that fight.
was something the Ameri- of meals, rent and travel.” impressive in reaching the they’re a close group. And “For sure, it brought us clos-
cans had fought for, and The Canadians took notice new contract. captain Meghan Duggan er,” Duggan said. “Right
lost, before.Angela Rug- of the off-ice victory. Can- Stauber said different said that bond gave them now we’re focused ... on
giero, currently a member ada puts more money into goals often require a differ- energy and momentum at doing what we need to
of the International Olym- the sport in part because of ent approach, though the the world championships. do to achieve our ultimate
pic Committee’s executive government funding, and women’s bond can carry They also learned a lot goal.”q
board, worked as an ice Hockey Canada officials over.
rink security guard the sum- said players are supported “You got to stick together,”
mer before the 1998 Olym- full-time for nine months Stauber said.
pics to make a few extra around the Olympics. Gigi Marvin of Minnesota,
bucks. Ruggiero said her “It’s amazing that they’ve a two-time silver medalist
team had a similar fight in brought women’s hockey and the team’s oldest play-
2000 and it was time again a step closer to where it
for “a real, contested sort should be, and I think in
of debate” because play- time it’s only a matter of
ers still needed to work oth- when as female athletes
er jobs. we’ll be able to play the
“They stood their ground game we love and get
and fought for what they paid,” Canadian forward
believe was right,” she said Meghan Agosta said. “I
of the current team. think hockey’s come a
Timing mattered. long way and they kind of
The United States had set the bar high.”
won the world champion- The U.S. women were re-
ships seven times when the cently honored by the
women threatened March Women’s Sports Founda-
15 to boycott the IIHF tion with the Wilma Ru-
Women’s World Champi- dolph Courage award .
onship in Plymouth, Michi- They’ve had the support
gan. They stuck together of politicians, NHL players,
after more than a year of celebrities and Billie Jean
fruitless negotiations with King.
USA Hockey and threats of In the end, what will matter
replacement players until most is how the Americans
a new four-year contract fare on what remains the
was reached March 28. biggest stage for women’s
The Americans received hockey when the Olympics
support from the unions for begin in February in South
the NHL, NFL, NBA and Ma- Korea.
jor League Baseball, along This fall, they’ve beaten
with 20 U.S. senators. Canada three out of four
Under the new contract, games in their pre-Olympic
USA Hockey will be paying exhibition tour, including
women’s national team twice in winning their third
players $3,000-$4,000 a straight Four Nations Cup
month with the ability to championship.