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Age not a problem for young or old

The beats aren't the same, but the U.S. women's hockey team forms a sweet medley.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 23, 2001

SALT LAKE CITY -- What the heck is playing on thestereo?

Considering the widening generation gap on the United States women's hockey team, that question has been asked a number of times.

"They play stuff like Billy Joel," 18-year-old forward Natalie Darwitz said with eyes rolling at the older players.

"We have 'N Sync, Eminem, Lauren Hill, kind of upbeat stuff. They listen to the oldies -- or something."

Said 30-year-old defenseman Karyn Bye: "I looked over at Natalie and said, "Who is this Snoop Dog?' "

It's an interesting dynamic.

The United States is preparing to defend its Olympic gold with many of the same faces from the 1998 Nagano Games, the first to feature a women's tournament. Those names include Bye, 30-year-old forwards Cammi Granato and Shelley Looney and 29-year-old defenseman Sue Merz.

But the team has gotten an injection of youthful energy thanks to Darwitz, 19-year-old forward Julie Chu and 20-year-old forward Krissy Wendell.

Each group has much to learn from the other.

"They teach us how to carry ourselves on and off the ice," Darwitz said of the veterans. "They fill in the blanks and we feed off them. They tell us about the little things we may not know."

What do the younger players bring?

"They're great," said goaltender Sara DeCosta, 24. "They're so much fun. Their music and fashions keep the team young. It's great for team chemistry to have a different range of people and personalities."

"We bring enthusiasm to the game," Darwitz said. "We're so wide-eyed we take in everything we can. It's like we walk into the locker room and we have a new pair of shoes. They see our enthusiasm and feed off it a little bit."

The youngsters are not bit players. Wendell and Darwitz have played in three World Championship tournaments. Chu has been in one.

Wendell, with 14 goals and 18 assists, is nine points behind team leader Granato through a pre-Olympic schedule in which the heavily favored United States is 21-0-0.

All three take turns on the penalty kill and power play.

In one sequence during a recent 4-1 victory over Canada at the E Center, Wendell scooted from her own blue line to the slot to break up a shot attempt. She then skated hard to Canada's end, where she picked up a loose puck and took a shot.

She didn't score, but she encapsulated the end-to-end style preached by coach Ben Smith.

"They're young, but not in hockey experience," Smith said. "I think you're just thinking in terms of birthdays. To us, they are hardened veterans."

Each has an interesting story.

Chu of Fairfield, Conn., said she gains inspiration from her grandmother, Lai Fong, who came to the United States from Hong Kong 35 years ago as a single mother with three children.

Wendell, who played baseball with boys in Brooklyn Park, Minn., was the fifth girl to play in the Little League World Series. At Park Center High, she set a state record with 110 goals.

Darwitz of Eagan, Minn., told her mother -- at 5 years old, no less -- she was going to play hockey in the Olympics. That a women's tournament didn't exist at that time did not seem to matter.

Despite playing exclusively with the national team since the fall of 2000, Darwitz is on track to graduate on time from Eagan High in June. She took three classes each of the past two summers to get ahead and studies during the school year using the Internet, overnight mail and faxes.

"I miss high school dances and friends, but how many kids my age can experience this?" she said. "I think I'm lucky to do this. My friends can talk about how much fun Saturday's party was. But I can say, "We beat Canada' and they can't."

Just as much fun: making a 20-song CD the team plays in the locker room. Most everyone chipped in with her favorites.

The youngsters chose rap and techno favorites and even threw in some cuts from the Dixie Chicks.

The older players?

"I think Karen listens to the Carpenters," Wendell said.

It's a bridgeable gap.

"Everyone sits together," Bye said. "They bring a lot of youth to this team. I have no problem saying to any of them, "Hey let's go to dinner.' "

"It's such a great balance," Wendell said. "It's the excitement of "I've never done this before' and the older veterans who have been through it."

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