What members of the U.S. women's hockey team say about the sport they play and the 2002 Winter Games:
? "When people comment that they like the women's game, the number one thing would probably be that they like the finesse of the game, that it's not just going out there and dropping the gloves and fighting. I think people enjoy that, just watching pure hockey." ? Sara DeCosta, goaltender, Warwick, R.I.
? "I don't feel a lot of pressure. I think where the pressure comes is from the media, you know, like people saying we won the last gold medal and we're expected to win the next one. I think we're just focused on playing our game." ? Jenny Potter, forward, Eagan, Minn.
? "Of course you want to win. But I think, at the same time, being part of the whole thing is something in itself. Right now, I want to be a part of this. I want to help us get better, and I want to win. But I want to enjoy the experience. Of course, we'll be disappointed if we don't win (the gold medal), but we really put the pressure on ourselves." ? Sue Merz, defenseman, Greenwich, Conn.
? "These kids are like veterans. They've been around for a while. They've been in the program. They've been exposed to hockey at the highest level, and the age really doesn't show too much on the ice. They have great poise, great offensive skills and great defensive skills. You can put them out there in any situation, so we're lucky to have them." ? Cammi Granato, forward, Downers Grove, Ill., on her four youngest teammates: Lyndsay Wall (16), Natalie Darwitz (18), Julie Chu (19) and Krissy Wendell (20)
? "I think she's actually, physically, probably ahead of where she's been. She's probably healthier now than she's been in the four or five years that I've coached her, and that's a tribute to how hard she's worked. She has the great name recognition, but she doesn't rest on that. She's still one of our top point producers." ? Ben Smith, head coach, on team captain Cammi Granato.
? "I think '98 really validated our sport, having girls see that it's OK to play hockey just like they can grow up and play soccer and tennis or anything else. There's a lot of girls coming up that maybe wouldn't like being the only girl on a guy's team, and for me I just think that's so great, that those girls have a choice now. They have an opportunity to play, and it's not such a stigma anymore." ? Sarah Tueting, goaltender, Winnetka, Ill.
? "I think a lot of people look at hockey and they look at it as just a physical game. We work with a sports psychologist during the year, and we work a lot on just visualization and mentally preparing for the game. As a player, you need to be strong enough that if you make a mistake out there you can flush it down the toilet and you don't dwell on it. You move on." ? Karyn Bye, forward, River Falls, Wis.
? "I grew up playing with the boys, and I was just like another player to them. I never checked a guy. I was never big enough, and I lost anyway when I tried, so, yeah, I received more checks than I gave so it wasn't too hard of a transition (to girls' hockey). I actually got hurt playing girls hockey more than playing with the boys." ? Krissy Wendell, forward, Brooklyn Park, Minn.