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Cammi Granato |
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In the fast-growing sport of women's ice hockey, Cammi Granato stands alone. Cammi is one of three players who have been with the US women's national team program since its inception and is the leading scorer in the history of the National team. A scholarship player for Providence she was the Eastern College Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 1991, 92 and 93. She was named the USA Women's Player of the Year in 1996, and named the first-ever US Women's Captain. In 1997, Cammi was the International Ice Hockey Federation all-tourney player in the Women's World Championships. On the ice, her relentless competitive fire and scoring touch have made her the game's most exciting player to watch. Off the ice, her attractive, engaging personality and easygoing manner have made her an ambassador for her sport. Granato took the hockey world by storm during her legendary career at Providence College where she set every school scoring record. Granato was named "Rookie of the Year" as a freshman and "Player of the Year" as a sophomore, junior and senior. Granato led the Lady Friars to back-to-back conference titles in 1991-92 and 1992-93. Granato has attracted worldwide attention as a five-time member of Team USA, leading her country to the silver medal in the last three World Championships. At the 1992 World Championships, Granato skated circles around the world's elite, finishing as the tournament's MVP and leading scorer. In April 1996, the United States Olympic Committee chose Granato as its "Female Athlete of the Month" after her stellar performance at the Pacific Championships. Hockey has been a way of life for the Granato family ever since their parents, Don and Natalie, spent their first date with NHL tickets to a Chicago Blackhawks game. Granato's oldest brother, Tony, is an established NHL star. Donny coaches the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers and Robby plays professional roller hockey. For Granato, it all started at home: "My brothers used to beat me up and throw me in the goal, but they made me an athlete." It was never easy being a girl in a male-dominated sport. Granato played organized hockey with boys starting at the young age of five. Other parents often complained and opponents tried to intimidate her, but she refused to give up: "I always liked hockey too much to stop playing, so I worked harder and pushed myself to be better. If I was average, people wouldn't accept me. If I was better, they'd respect me." Perseverance has brought Granato to the top of her sport as it gains increasing popularity worldwide. Women's ice hockey debuted as a medal sport at the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan. For the first time in history, the best female players from around the world got to compete for the gold. As team captain, Granato led her team to victory and straight into the hearts of people around the world. In 1998, she not only carried the flag for the US team in the 1998 Olympic Closing ceremonies in Nagano Japan, but she also successfully led her team to the first ever gold medal in women's hockey. After the Olympics, Cammi was hired by the LA Kings as a radio color commentator, making her the only woman broadcaster in the NHL and only the second in League history. Cammi has been listed as one of the top ten dominant women in world hockey. Cammi rejoined Team USA for another medal run in the 2002 Olympics held in Salt Lake City. In a very exciting Gold Medal game, the U.S. finished a close second to Canada taking home the silver. In May 2002, Cammi signed with the Vancouver Griffins of Canada's NWHL. |
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