Today, it was announced that Cammi Granato will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. She is being recognized as being a pioneer in women's sports and will be the first woman inducted in the hall.
At the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, women's ice hockey was held for the first time. Captain Cammi Granato led Team USA to a gold medal, then a silver medal at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. She eventually retired as the all-time scoring leader for USA Hockey's women's with 343 points in 205 international games. Without her at the 2006 Games in Torino, Italy, Team USA failed to advance to the gold medal game for the first time, having to settle for bronze (She had been cut by a new power-hungry coach, who wanted to make a political statement).
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This May, she was the first woman to be inducted in the International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame. Her older brother Tony played pro hockey in the NHL, and is currently a head coach there. They both remember a time when women's teams didn't exist and she had to disguise herself as a boy. Things have changed tremendously since then, with amateur teams like the Anaheim Lady Ducks and Cal Selects being recognized as some of the best teams in North America (rivaling even traditional hotbeds like Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Michigan). Congratulations, Cammi!
The jersey style they used in Nagano continues to be my favorite USA Hockey design this day, and a wonderful reminder of the history that Cammi Granato carved there. It's visible from my closet right now. Too bad it's too warm to wear it during the Beijing broadcasts.
Other players inducted were NHL players who'd represented Team USA numerous times. Mike Richter goaltended the US to a World Cup in 1996 and a silver medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.Brett Hull and Brian Leetch were also players on those same teams.
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3 months ago
this is great for both hockey and women everywhere. she was truly an unbelievable individual and deserves this honor as much as hull, leetch, and richter
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