BEIJING — When Minnesota Duluth defenseman and captain Ashton Bell returns for her fifth season in 2022-23, she’ll do so as an Olympic gold medalist.
Bell, former Bulldogs defenseman Jocelyne Larocque and Canada captured gold Thursday via a 3-2 victory over the United States in the final of the 2022 Olympic women’s hockey tournament in Beijing.
It’s the third Olympic medal for Larocque, who helped UMD win a national championship in 2010 after being cut from Canada’s national team prior to the 2010 Olympics. Since then, Larocque helped Canada win gold in 2014 in Sochi, silver in 2018 in Pyeongchang and now gold again in 2022 in Beijing.
The 2022 Winter Games in Beijing were the first Olympics for Bell, and she’ll leave with an Olympic gold medal. The native of Deloraine, Manitoba, finished the Olympics with a goal and four assists in seven games. She didn’t register a point in the gold medal game, but finished with a plus-1 rating.
Larocque, who posted two assists and a plus-11 overall rating in seven games, took two penalties in Thursday’s gold medal game, but Canada killed off both.
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Former Bulldogs goaltender Maddie Rooney, the hero for the U.S. in the shootout win over Canada in 2018, backed up former Wisconsin Badgers goaltender Alex Cavallini on Thursday, as she had done in the two previous knockout round games. Rooney made the winning save in the shootout four years ago for gold. This time she and the U.S. settle for silver.
Another former Bulldogs goaltender, Eveliina Makinen, won her second bronze medal on Wednesday with Finland via a 4-0 victory over former Bulldog Lara Stalder and Switzerland.
The Bulldogs women’s hockey program finished with four medalists — two gold, a silver and a bronze — at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.
How the Bulldogs fared
Here’s a look at how the 11 Bulldogs performed in Beijing at the 2022 Olympic women’s hockey tournament.
Ashton Bell, Canada defenseman (GOLD) — One goal, four assists in seven games
Jocelyne Larocque, Canada defenseman (GOLD) — Two assists in seven games
Maddie Rooney, United States goaltender (SILVER) — .846 save%, 3.07 GAA in two games played
Eveliina Makinen, Finland goaltender (BRONZE) — Did not dress in Beijing
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Lara Stalder, Switzerland forward (FOURTH) — Five goals, four assists in seven games
Emma Soderberg, Sweden goaltender — .913 save%, 3.47 GAA in five games played
Michelle Lowenhielm, Sweden forward — No points in five games
Alexandra Vafina, Russian Olympic Committee forward — Three assists in five games
Katerina Mrazova, Czechia forward — One goal in five games
Kassy Betinol, China forward — One goal in four games
Jessica Wong, China defenseman — Two assists in four games
