Today marked the second day of practice for the U.S. women at the Kwandong Hockey Centre, which is about a ten-minute drive from the Gangneung Athlete Village. Following practice, the players held their first off-ice training session.

PLAYERS’ FIRST IMPRESSIONS
“The first couple days at the rink have been great so far! We love the feel of the ice and how fast it is. The lighting and coloring in the arena is so cool and gives us great vibes going into the tournament.” -Haley Skarupa (Rockville, Md.)

“The Kwandong has become our home away from home. It really hits you that we are at the Olympics when you see the rings and the “XXIII Winter Olympic Games” written on the ice.” -Kendall Coyne (Palos Heights, Ill.)

TAKE FIVE: MEGAN KELLER
Defenseman Megan Keller (Farmington, Mich.) is one of 13 players making their Olympic debut this month in PyeongChang. Keller is a three-time International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship gold-medal winner, and has played three seasons of collegiate hockey with Boston College (HEA).

HER EARLIEST HOCKEY MEMORY: “I wouldn’t take skating lessons unless my parents dressed me in full ice hockey equipment, head to toe. I started hockey because it was something my older brother did and I always wanted to do everything he did growing up. And I’ve loved it ever since.”

OLYMPIC ROLE MODEL: Angela Ruggiero

GO-TO DESSERT: Vanilla ice cream on top of a warm chocolate chip cookie

IF SHE WASN’T PLAYING HOCKEY, SHE WOULD…: Either be working in the music business or as an FBI agent

PERSONAL MOTTO: “The early bird gets the worm”