Most Olympic athletes dream of winning just one gold medal over their Olympic career.  Caroline Ouellette now has a total of four gold medals.

Ouellette helped captain a comeback fitting only of the Olympics, as Canada overcame a two-goal deficit late in the third period to defeat the United
It looked like Ouellette and company would have their golden streak snapped until Canada, trailing 2-0, finally got on the board at the 16:34 mark of the third period, with Larcoque credited for an assist on the goal.  Then, with a mere 55 seconds left on the clock in regulation and no goaltender in Canada's net, Irwin had a helper from the side of the net, helping to find Marie-Philip Poulin for the incredible game-tying goal.

The rest, as they say, is history, as Poulin scored 8:10 into overtime, assuring Ouellette of a fourth gold medal in as many attempts and leaving the Canadian women in some very elite company.  Ouellette's four Canada squads tie the Canadian men of 1920-1932 and the Soviet Union of 1964-1976 for the most successive gold medals in Olympic hockey history (four).  Canada's win Thursday was also their record 20th consecutive win in a row -- meaning Ouellette has never suffered a defeat on the world's biggest stage.

"It was crazy, it was intense, the emotions were so high," Ouellette said. "We kept talking about no matter what was going to happen, we would not give up. We would fight until the end. We stand tough."

Ouellette and Canada fought until the end, all right.  She's got a fourth gold medal to prove it.

IT'S BRONZE FOR STALDER AND THE SWISS
University of Minnesota Duluth rookie defenseman Lara Stalder could not hide her sheer joy Thursday night at Bolshoy Ice Dome in Sochi, Russia, and who could blame her?  Stalder had just played a pivotal role in securing the bronze medal for Switzerland in a 4-3 stunner over Sweden.

Stalder and the Swiss grabbed the first Olympic medal in ice hockey since the men won bronze on home ice in St. Moritz back in 1948.  For Sweden and three former Bulldogs in Pernilla Winberg, Jenni Asserholt and Kim Martin (Hasson), it was tough to swallow for a country who hasn't medaled since 2006 when the Swedes earned silver with their huge upset of the US in a shootout.

8,283 Olympic fans saw Sweden build a two-goal lead after the first 40 minutes of play before Switzerland equalized with two goals in the first seven minutes of third period action.  Stalder then connected with Jessica Lutz to give the Swiss a go ahead goal with 6:17 left in the game, before Switzerland tacked on the eventual game-winner with 1:07 remaining in the skate.  Sweden never gave up, with Winberg, who has a penchant for scoring big goals on the biggest stage in the world, drew the Swedes within a single goal with 44 seconds left in regulation.  Winberg, camped in front of the Swiss net, smacked home her third goal in Sochi, and now sits tied for first in scoring with three goals and four assists for seven points in six Olympic skates.

Despite the experience Sweden brought in to the game -- all three UMD alums, Winberg, Asserholt and Martin have all suited up for over 200 national team games -- it was Switzerland, who had never competed in an Olympic medal game, that found the edge.

Winberg logged more time on the ice than any other player on either team, skating for 27:03 minutes on 33 shifts.  She also had a game-high nine shots on goal, including three in each period.  Asserholt, who had an assist in the game, was on the ice the second most of either team, with 26:44 minutes played on 31 shifts.  Stalder recorded four shots on goal with her assist, skating for 17:06 on 23 shifts, but also was called for two penalties for four minutes.

For a second Olympics in a row, a current Bulldog will return to the regular season a bronze medal winner.  Both Saara Tuominen and Mariia Posa both brought bronze medals back to Duluth in 2010 after leading Finland to a 3-2 overtime victory over Sweden.

FOUR FORMER BULLDOGS WILL PLAY FOR GOLD AT WINTER OLYMPICS-- Feb. 18
Eight current and former University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey players will skate for an Olympic medal Thursday, after both Canada and the United States advanced to the gold medal game and Sweden and Switzerland will face-off for the bronze medal.

Canada will feature three Bulldog alums -- including team captain Caroline Ouellette, already a three-time gold medalist and Haley Irwin, who also owns a gold medal from the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.  Blueliner Jocelyne Larcoque, who again played the third most minutes (21:11) Monday in Canada's 3-1 win over the Swiss, is playing in her first Olympic games after she was the last player cut from the 2010 Olympic squad.  

Larcoque and company will have their hands full with the US after the Americans throttled Sweden 6-1 in the earlier contest Monday.  Former Bulldog assistant coach Julie Chu will skate for the US.  The US also features former UMD goalie coach Robb Stauber on the bench.

Current UMD rookie defenseman Lara Stalder will get a chance at the bronze medal when the Swiss face Sweden and former Bulldogs Kim Martin (Hasson), Pernilla Winberg and Jenni Asserholt.  Martin and Winberg both own silver medals from the 2006 Olympics, while Martin also owns a bronze from the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

In the Classification rounds Sunday, Russia defeated Japan 6-3 with three assists from former Bulldog Iya Gavrilova.  In the earlier game, Finland and current junior UMD blueliner Tea Villila barely slipped by Germany and former Bulldog standout goaltender Jennifer Harss with a 2-1 win.  Harss made 25 saves on 25 shots in the skate.  Germany will battle Japan Tuesday for seventh place, while Russia and Finland will collide for fifth place in the later game at Shayba Arena in Sochi.

STALDER AND THE SWISS UPSET RUSSIA, WINBERG AND SWEDEN DOWN FINLAND -- Feb. 15
Switzerland and Sweden were not the favorited teams heading into their Olympic quarterfinal games against Russia and Finland Saturday, but neither team was interested in what the experts had say.  

The Swiss, with current University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey rookie defenseman Lara Stalder, stunned host nation Russia and two former Bulldogs in Aleksandra Vafina and Iya Gavrilova.  Stalder provided the insurance goal for Switzerland with 21 seconds remaining in the game on the open net to secure the 2-0 victory and set in motion the second huge upset on the day.

Stalder will now have a shot at a medal, along with seven other former UMD players and a coach who will be skating in semifinal games Monday.  

Three of those UMD alums will play for Sweden, who in a huge part to Pernilla Winberg's three assists, got by fiesty Finland and current junior UMD blueliner Tea Villila 4-2.  Winberg assisted on Sweden's first two goals of the game, which didn't come until 48 seconds into the third period to tie the Finns, before Sweden and Finland added another at the 5:09 mark to take the 2-1 lead.  Sweden scored with 41 seconds remaining in the contest, on a  first assist to Winberg that iced the game at 4-2.  Former Bulldog and Swedish captain Jenni Asserholt also had an assist on Sweden's second goal of the day.

With those three assists, Winberg is now tied for the most points in Sochi with two goals and three assists in five skates.

Sweden, who already boasts Bulldog medalists in Kim Martin (Hasson) and Winberg, will face the United States on Monday.  The Swiss will take on defending gold medalist Canada and former UMD stars Caroline Ouellette, Jocelyne Larocque and Haley Irwin.  Finland and Germany will batttle tomorrow, as well as Russia and Japan in the fifth-place bracket.

OLYMPICS QUARTERFINAL TEAMS SET, ALL FEATURE BULLDOGS -- Feb. 13
The 2014 Winter Olympic quarterfinals have been set for women's hockey after Russia defeated Sweden Thursday 3-1 and Germany blanked Japan 4-0.
Finland, with current Bulldog Tea Villila will face Sweden and its three UMD alums.  One of those Swedish alums -- Pernilla Winberg, scored her second goal of the games Thursday in Sweden's 3-1 loss to host Russia.  Winberg scored with just 1:02 remaining in the second period to draw the Swedes with a single goal at 2-1, but Russia later netted another goal late in the third period to ice the game.

Russia, with Aleksandra Vafina and Iya Gavrilova, will face Switzerland Saturday in the second quarterfinal game.  Current UMD rookie defenseman Lara Stalder is on the Swiss team.

CANADA EDGES USA, VILLILA'S FINLAND SQUEAKS BY STALDER'S SWISS -- Feb. 12
It what most likely will not be the lone meeting between women's hockey fiercest rivals, Canada rallied Wednesday to defeat the United States 3-2 in the confines of Shayba Arena.

In a game that featured four players with University of Minnesota Duluth ties, Canada, with former Bulldog All-Americans Caroline Ouellette and Jocelyne Larcoque and forward Haley Irwin, finish Group A play 3-0, which will give the Canadians the right to be the home team -- with the last change--if it makes it to the gold medal game.

Larocque -- the last player cut from the 2010 Canadian Olympic team before returning to UMD to help guide the Bulldogs to their fifth NCAA title -- continues to be impressive in her Olympic debut.  She logged the third most minutes of any Canadian player with 21:30 of ice time, and took the fourth most shifts at 29.

In the earlier game which pitted current Bulldog defensemen Lara Stalder of Switzerland and Tea Villila of Finland againt each other, Finland defeated the Swiss 4-3 in overtime.  Finland will await the losing team in Thurday's Russia-Sweden showdown, while Switzerland will await the winner of that game in the quarterfinals set for Saturday, Feb. 15.

A total of five former Bulldogs will be on the ice in the Russia-Sweden skate Thursday, including Kim Martin Hasson, Pernilla Winberg and Jenni Asserholt for Sweden and Aleksandra Vafina and Iya Gavrilova for Russia.  That game is scheduled to get underway at 9 p.m. Sochi time.

VAFINA DELIVERS FOR RUSSIA, MARTIN SHUTS OUT GERMANY -- Feb. 11
Russia and Sweden both clinched spots in the Olympic quarter-finals, and both were led by former University of Minnesota Duluth hockey players.  But their paths into the next round of Olympic hockey were entirely different Tuesday.

A Bulldog senior just one year ago, Aleksandra Vafina scored the game-winning goal for Russia with just 8:24 remaining in the game, giving host Russia the 2-1 win and another packed crowd at the flag-coverd Shayba Arena full of 4,897 fans get what they came to see.  Vafina stripped a Japanese defenseman at the blueline and skated in for a shorthanded breakaway, roofing it past Japan netminder Nana Fujimoto's stick side.

"I didn't really think," said Vafina.  "As soon as I got the puck, I felt I would score.  I just went straight to the net and shot.  I was thinking we have to score, we have to win this game."

The win sets up a showdown between Russia and Sweden, who breezed to a 4-0 win over Germany earlier in the day on the goaltending of Olympic expert Kim Martin (Hasson).  The former UMD All-American turned away all 21 shots she faced, getting help from another former Bulldog on the scoreboard.  Pernilla Winberg netted Sweden's fourth goal with just under nine minutes remaining in the game.  

Martin and Winberg's success came against former UMD teammate Jennifer Harss, who made 25 saves against the Swedes but was not afforded similar offense in front of her.

Tomorrow will feature current Bulldog defenseman Tea Villila of Finland squaring off against her UMD teammate Lara Stalder of Switzerland in the first game set for noon Sochi time.  The second game pits Caroline Ouellette, Jocelyne Larcoque and Haley Irwin of Canada against former Bulldog assistant coach Julie Chu of the US.  That contest is scheduled to get underway at 4:30 p.m. Sochi time.

Related Article on Martin -- LAROCQUE'S FIRST OLYMPIC GOAL WITH CANADA HIGHLIGHTS DAY IN SOCHI -- Feb. 8
Jocelyne Larocque might be one of eight Olympic rookies for the Canadian Olympic Team, but she sure left the earliest mark against Switzerland Saturday at the Shaiba Arena In Sochi, Russia.

Larocque scored her first Olympic goal and the first goal of the 2014 Olympics for Canada a mere 1:25 into the game against Switzerland, a point shot that Swiss goaltender Florence Schelling simply couldn't stop.  Canada, flush with three former University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey alums in team captain Caroline Ouellette, Haley Irwin and Larocque, beat Switzerland and current Bulldog defenseman Lara Stalder 5-0 in the second game of the day.

"First shift, first shot," laughed Larocque.  "It was a great way to start the game."

Stalder, also making her first appearance in an Olympic game, logged over 22 minutes of ice time, more than any other Swiss player Saturday.
In the first game of the day, current UMD junior defenseman Tea Villila also made her Olympic debut with Finland, dropping a 3-1 decision against former Bulldog assistant coach Julie Chu and the United States.  Villila was on the ice for 12:38 minutes for the Fins, who were outshot 43-15 but surrendered just three goals.

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