EAST ALTON, Ill. — The road to this year's Under-18 women's World Hockey Championships has taken a path through a multitude of places, including East Alton.
Yep, East Alton, located just east of St. Louis.
Joy Dunne, who trains with East Alton's Elite Hockey School, is a member of the United States Under-18 Women's World Championships team that's playing in Östersund, Sweden.
On Monday at the Under-18 World Championships, Dunne notched a goal and an assist in the United States' 8-1 victory over Finland.
And she's not the only Dunne who contributes to the U.S. hockey efforts. Older sister Jincy, who also trains with Tyler Elbrecht's Elite Hockey Facility, played in the Olympics last year and was a starter for the U.S. U-18 women's team in 2015.
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"They're from a family that definitely has hockey talent," said Elbrecht, who owns and operates the facility adjacent to the East Alton Ice Arena. "It's an honor and a privilege to train them at Elite Hockey school."
Joy Dunne is enrolled at the Elite School for training, but takes classes at Fort Zumwalt South High School. She plays for the St. Louis Lady Blues Under-19 club team.
Sister Jincy, who finished playing at Ohio State last season, also trains with Elbrecht's Elite facility.
"They come to us for training," Elbrecht said. "It's exciting to see them succeed."
Succeed, indeed.
Joy said she knows her role as a point producer.
"I'm definitely a shooter," Joy Dunne said in an August, 2022 interview with Buffalo Victory Press reporter Melissa Burgess. "I don't know how it happened. I broke my wrist one time, and then I came back and shot harder than ever. I'll take it. Sometimes, it just works."
Team USA wraps up preliminary-round play on Wednesday with a showdown against Canada. Puck drop is set for 1 p.m. Central Time and can be viewed watched on the NHL Network.
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Joy, a 5-foot-11 high school senior, is committed to at Ohio State next fall. Sisters Jincy and Jessica also played for the Buckeyes. Another sister, Josey Dunne, is at the University of Minnesota. Brothers James and Josh are in on the hockey act as well. Josh plays for the Columbia Blue Jackets' American Hockey League affiliate and James played for Fort Zumwalt South and the St. Louis Sting club hockey organization.
"Joy's love and passion for the game are a thing to witness," Elbrecht said. "No one is going to outwork her. She's going to be the hardest worker in the room while being the most modest."
Joy Dunne enrolled through her high school at Elite seven months ago. Elbrecht said being a part of the her training regimen is special.
"Joy is an amazing human being first and foremost," Elbrecht said. "Along with being an amazing person, she's one of the best women's hockey players in the world at her age.
"Joy's going to have an amazing USA hockey career and we're happy to play a small part in her journey."
(c)2023 The Telegraph (Alton, Ill.)
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