Attacks Have Impact on U.S. Women’s Hockey Team

If anyone on the U.S. women’s hockey team had a compelling reason to vote against traveling to Finland for the Four Nations Cup tournament next month, it’s forward Jenny Potter.

As the mother of a 9-month-old daughter, Potter couldn’t have been faulted for wanting to remain close to her family in these troubled times. And she had seen at close range the tragic effects of the Sept. 11 attacks: The father of Team USA forward Kathleen Kauth was killed at the World Trade Center, shaking the team and setting players’ nerves on edge.

Yet, Potter was all for proceeding with the pre-Olympic tour--until she and her teammates reached a consensus that pushing jittery travelers to go overseas might splinter the team and hurt its chances of repeating as Olympic champions.

“Actually, I was one of the players who really wanted to go,” said Potter, who had a goal and two assists Saturday in Team USA’s 4-1 victory over Team Canada before 5,224 at the E-Center.

“But this is a team, and some people didn’t want to go, and we had to do what’s in the best interests of the team. That’s what we have to live with and go on.”

The Four Nations Cup, scheduled for Nov. 3-10, was to include the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Finland. Team USA’s withdrawal erases six games from its 39-game schedule, including two potential meetings with Canada, its closest competition. No replacement games will be scheduled.

Doug Palazzari, executive director of USA Hockey, said security and travel concerns influenced the decision. The team was stranded for several days in Portland, Ore., on the way home from a tournament in China when the U.S. air transport system was shut down immediately after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

“We made the decision with good, sound reasoning after talking it over with the players and staff,” said Palazzari, who informed the team Friday. “They’ve been through, as most Americans have, a very difficult time. They’ve been struck very close by the [Sept. 11] tragedy.

“If this were the world tournament, we’d probably take a different stance. We know the Finnish team would do everything as far as security, but our major concern was if something happened, how would we get them home?”

Palazzari also said the U.S. men’s under-18 team was pulled out of a tournament next month in Kuopio, Finland. U.S. sports federations previously withdrew teams from the rhythmic gymnastics world championships in Spain, all junior Grand Prix figure skating events, and a senior-level figure skating event in Germany. In addition, some German and Japanese speedskaters who planned to train at the Olympic Oval delayed their trips out of travel and safety concerns. The World Championships of Wrestling, scheduled for Sept. 26-29 in New York, were postponed and moved to Bulgaria and Greece, but U.S. athletes are still entered.

U.S. skiers Picabo Street and Chad Fleischer said Friday they had spoken to Austrian skiers who are reluctant to fly to the U.S for World Cup events in November and December. However, both said they expect those athletes to compete at the Salt Lake City Games.

Goaltender Sarah Tueting, who made 24 saves Saturday to help Team USA improve its record to 8-0, said she agreed with the decision to stay home.

“I was one of the players who was on the fence about what to do,” said Tueting, who was in goal when the U.S. defeated Canada in the gold-medal game at Nagano in 1998. “Some wanted to go, some didn’t. It’s important not to tear apart the team at this point.”

Said forward A.J. Mleczko, who set up Angela Ruggiero’s four-on-three power-play goal nine minutes into the third period: “We appreciate the thoughts and concerns USA Hockey has shown. The staff and players voiced our concerns. I think as hockey players, we’re missing a great tournament, and we recognize the sacrifice we’re making. We believe in USA Hockey, and we support this decision.”

Potter--known as Jenny Schmidgall when she played for the U.S. at Nagano--probably had the most to gain by playing in Finland. She’s still regaining her pre-pregnancy fitness, although her agility, clever passing skills and the perfectly placed wrist shot she turned into Team USA’s first goal indicated she has made impressive progress.

“I knew it was going to be a big game, because it was Canada, and I hadn’t played them for a while,” said Potter, who lives in Eagan, Minn. “I was nervous, but after a couple of shifts I settled down. I do weigh less than I did before the last Olympics and I feel faster.”

Potter said motherhood has made her more disciplined in hockey and daily life. She skated into her ninth month of pregnancy and laced up her skates again six weeks after baby Madison’s birth.

“That’s all the doctor could keep me off the ice,” she said. “At first, it was a lot harder. There are a lot of priorities that have to be straightened out, but I’ve had a lot of help from my husband [Rob].... I always pictured myself playing hockey again. There was no doubt in my mind, but I had no idea how it would work.”

It has worked well for Potter and Team USA Coach Ben Smith. “Her passion for hockey is equal to anyone I’ve ever coached,” he said.

She is already passing that passion to her daughter. “I’m excited about getting her on skates,” Potter said, laughing.

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Canada leads the teams’ all-time series, 27-15.... Veteran Team USA forward Cammi Granato didn’t play because she had a fever, team officials said.