Canada cruises into women's hockey final
For Canadian women’s hockey star Meghan Agosta, the Olympic experience has been wonderful and strange.
The other day she bumped into her hero, Henrik Zetterberg, in the Athletes' Village and got his autograph. In Canada’s 5-0 semifinal victory against Finland on Monday, she not only set the Olympic tournament record with her ninth goal, a young man in the crowd of 16,324 at Canada Hockey Place proposed marriage.
"I don’t know the guy, but when I saw it I chuckled," said the talented Agosta, in reference to the "Marry Me" sign the fan was holding.
Her popularity in Vancouver is not surprising, nor is her ability to score goals to lead Canada into the gold-medal final against the United States on Thursday. The 23-year-old forward has been a talent in waiting and has reached new heights because she has achieved the consistency that Canadian coach Melody Davidson has told Agosta she had been lacking.
Consistency also is a forte of Zetterberg, the Swedish star forward of the Detroit Red Wings. Agosta grew up in Ruthven, Ont., (near Windsor) and always has been a fan of the Red Wings.
She was uneasy approaching Zetterberg for his signature the other morning as he ate breakfast. But she gathered up enough nerve to get her keepsake.
Perseverance pays
In a roundabout way, Zetterberg has played a role in Agosta’s improved play.
Linemate Jayne Hefford and Agosta often write each other inspirational notes. A few months ago, Hefford wrote a note with an attached article she found in which Zetterberg talked about the importance of perseverance as an athlete.
The message was clear to Agosta that she could dig down deeper in her game and do more.
The result has been one dynamic line for Canada with Agosta, Hefford and Caroline Ouellete. There is almost 10 years' age difference between Agosta and Hefford, one of five Canadian women to have played in four Olympic Games, but the two have known each other for a long time.
When she was 10, Agosta showed up to Hefford’s hockey school that she runs with former national team player Lupuis in Kingston, Ont. Agosta was so good they had to place her with the oldest group at the camp, the 16-year-olds.
"It was obvious she was going to be a great hockey player," Hefford said. "It’s neat to be playing on a line together now. She’s as good a goal-scorer as anyone I’ve seen. She has a good touch. Her speed is unbelievable.
"This year, she has found her consistency night in and night out."
Agosta remembers "everything" about going to Hefford’s hockey school.
"It’s one thing to play with her on the team, it’s an honour to play on the same line as her," Agosta said. "She is a great leader."
Agosta is thankful to her parents, Nino and Char, for providing the emotional and financial support to reach her position in women’s hockey. Playing for Canada was something she first told her Mom and Dad when she was six.
Last spring, she led unheralded Mercyhurst College, where she studies criminal law, to the NCAA women’s final. And now she has the women’s Olympic goal-scoring record.
"It’s not about who breaks the record," Agosta said. "This was about winning the game. It’s a team sport. "I’ve been very fortunate to play with two great players and they are a big part of my success."
Against Finland, Canada could have scored more goals but it ran into a wall in Finnish goalie Noora Raty, who called her outing her best game yet. She stopped 45 of the 50 shots Canada fired at her. Meanwhile, Canadian goalie Shannon Szabados faced only 11 shots.
Canada held a 2-0 advantage after the first period and 3-0 following 40 minutes. Haley Irwin scored twice, while Ouellette and Cherie Piper scored the other goals.
The Canadian women have outscored the opposition 46-2 in their four games in Vancouver and have run their Olympic win streak to 14 games, dating back to their loss in the 1998 final to the United States in Nagano, Japan.