April 21, 2018
Olympic gold medalists share memories, moments of glory
By Vicki-Ann Downing
Twenty years after they captured the first Olympic gold medal for the United States in women’s ice hockey, four Friars reunited as honored guests for Alumni & Family Weekend, Feb. 9-11.
Lisa Brown-Miller ’88, Vicki Movsessian ’94, Sara DeCosta-Hayes ’00, and Laurie Baker ’00 returned to campus to take part in several weekend events, including a Saturday morning discussion facilitated by Bob Deraney, PC’s coach since 1999. The four women were teammates in Nagano, Japan, when women’s ice hockey debuted as an Olympic sport in 1998 and the U.S. won gold. Three other Friars were members of that 20-player squad: Cammi Granato ’93 & ’12Hon., Chris Bailey ’92, and Alana Blahoski ’96.
Granato sent a video greeting that was played at the start of the discussion. The audience in the Peterson Recreation Center also watched highlights of Team USA’s victory against Canada in the final round.
“Although it was 20 years ago that we won, watching videos like that gives me goosebumps and brings tears to my eyes,” said Brown-Miller, who traveled to PC from her home in Michigan.
At 31, Brown-Miller was one of the oldest members of the Olympic team. Growing up near Detroit, she had few opportunities to play women’s hockey. She decided to attend PC without being certain she could make the team. She credited the coach, John Marchetti ’71, with creating a family atmosphere that welcomed her.
At the Olympics, Brown-Miller kept a notebook of her experiences. The team’s success “came down to chemistry,” she said. “It was by far the best team I’ve played on, the most selfless, the epitome of team.”
Movsessian said the key to the gold-medal run was respect.
“It’s hard to find 20 people who can maintain respect for each other as teammates,” she said. “That’s what we did at the moment. We … wanted so badly to do well for each other and collectively win. We would do anything for each other.”
In contrast to Brown-Miller, Movsessian played hockey with boys and girls all the time while growing up in Massachusetts. Since 2003, she has founded two girls’ youth hockey leagues, including one with DeCosta-Hayes, the Rhode Island Sting.
DeCosta-Hayes, a Rhode Island native who was the starting goaltender for the Toll Gate High boys’ team in high school before starring at PC, said she most remembered “complete chaos” when the U.S. defeated Canada for the gold medal.
Later, as they lined up at the blue line and the National Anthem played, “we all just reached down and held onto each other tight,” said DeCosta-Hayes. “It was such an emotional time to be joined hand-in-hand with teammates. A moment you’ll never forget.”
