3 Wisconsin Players Win Olympic Gold As U.S. Hockey Beats Canada

GANGNEUNG, South Korea — Three Wisconsin hockey players wore Olympic gold early Thursday morning as the U.S. women's hockey team beat Canada in an improbable victory — the first for American women in 20 years.

Brianna Decker, of Dousman, Amanda Kessel of Madison and Alex Rigsby of Delafield will all get to don the gold medal as the U.S. women's hockey team earns a place in history.

The women's gold-medal hockey win — 38 years to the day after the famous "Miracle on Ice" at Lake Placid — came in a 3-2 thriller against the U.S. team's greatest rival and ended Canada's bid for a fifth straight gold. This win is one for the history books, too.

The game ended in a 2-2 tie, and no one scored in the 20-minute overtime period. A penalty shootout also ended in a tie, sending the game to a sudden-death shootout where Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, a three-time Olympian, slid the puck past the Canadian goalie with a dazzling move. Then, U.S. goalie Maddie Rooney shut down the Canadian shot to end the game.

"It is everything for our country," U.S. coach Robb Stauber said. "I am just so thankful for the outcome. It was a thrilling final. It was unreal."

Amanda Kessel previously earned a silver medal with the team in Sochi in 2014. She grew up in Madison, attended Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, Minnesota, graduating in 2010. She attended the University of Minnesota and graduated in 2015 with a degree in Sports Management. She's the daughter of Phil and Kathy Kessel.

Delafield's Alex Rigsby suits up with the U.S. Women's Ice Hockey team, which has its sights on a gold medal for the first time in 20 years. Rigsby is the team's leading netminder, and has played with the team during the last three world championships. She's the Wisconsin Badgers all-time leader in victories with 100, and is also the college team's all-time leader in minutes played, saves and has the highest save percentage in school history. She was the first female athlete to be drafted by the USHL, when she was drafted by the Chicago Steel.

Brianna Decker also earned a silver medal in 2014 in Sochi. She graduated from Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, Minnesota in 2009 and went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 2013 with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. As a member of the National Women's Hockey League, she was named the league's most valuable player for the second straight season in 2016-17 after leading the league with 14 goals and 31 points in 17 games for the Boston Pride.

Decker notched as assist and a shot on goal in 26 minutes of ice time against Team Canada. Kessel saw 19 minutes of ice time and registered two shots on goal. Rigsby served as the backup goaltender in the gold medal game.

United States' Alex Rigsby, left, and Monique Lamoureux-Morando celebrate after winning the women's gold medal hockey game against Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)