Harvard Alumnae Lead Team USA, Canada to Gold-Medal Game at Olympics

Pictured: Julie Chu '06-07 has scored twice and added four assists at the Vancouver Games.
Photo courtesy: USA Hockey

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VANCOUVER, B.C. – Five former standouts of the Harvard women’s hockey team have propelled their respective countries to the gold-medal game at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Jennifer Botterill ’02-03 and Sarah Vaillancourt ’08-09 are forwards on Team Canada, while forward Julie Chu ’06-07 and defenders Angela Ruggiero ’02-04 and Caitlin Cahow ’07-08 are members of the American squad.

The gold-medal game between the U.S. and Canada will be held Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. EST. The contest, which will be played at Canada Hockey Place, will be shown live on MSNBC.

The United States will play for the gold after defeating Sweden in a semifinal matchup by a score of 9-1 Monday. The Americans are 4-0 during the Olympics with other wins coming against China, 12-1, Feb. 14, Russia, 13-0, Feb. 16, and Finland, 6-0, Feb. 18.

Chu, a three-time Olympian, has scored two goals and handed out four assists, including one in the Americans’ victory over Sweden. Cahow netted two goals and dished out an assist in the win against Sweden, as Team USA outshot its opponent by a 46-12 margin. Competing in her second Olympics, Cahow has two goals and two assists in the four American wins. Ruggiero, who also lit the lamp against the Swedes and is playing in her fourth Olympic Games, has notched three goals and added two assists in Vancouver.

Team Canada is also undefeated entering the gold-medal game, boasting a 4-0 record with victories against Slovakia, 18-0, Feb. 13, Switzerland, 10-1, Feb. 15, Sweden, 13-1, Feb. 17 and Finland, 5-0, Thursday in the semifinals.

A two-time Olympian, Vaillancourt had an assist in Canada’s victory over Finland and is one of Canada’s leadaing scorers in the tournament with eight points on three goals and five assists. Botterill, who is competing in her fourth Olympics, has one assist during this year’s Games.