As most HHS students were making their way back into school last week, Grace Bizal, senior was in Buffalo, NY representing the United States in the Under-18 ice hockey world championships.

Bizal made her first U18 Women’s World Championship appearance in last year’s tournament in Hungary. She had three assists in five games played, but the team fell to Canada in the gold medal game.

 This year, with Bizal as assistant captain, the Americans played their first game against Team Canada on Jan. 5. Bizal gave the U.S. their only regulation goal as they won 2-1 in a shootout.

 In their remaining two preliminary-round games, the U.S. cruised by the Czech Republic and Russia with a 10-1 goal differential, earning the Americans a quarterfinal bye.

 The semifinals proved no challenge for the U.S. as they rolled past the Czech Republic with a 5-0 victory, setting up a rematch with Canada in the championship game.

 The U.S.-Canada final marks the eighth straight gold medal game between the two countries. Canada has won the last three.

 The final, held in the newly-opened Harbor Center (connected to the First Niagara Center, home to the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres), featured a crowd filled with American red, white and blue and a surprisingly large representation of Canadian red and white. The center is nearly a neutral site for both countries, for though it is firmly situated in New York, it is only about 20 minutes from the Canadian border.

With Sabres head coach Ted Nolan and Detroit Red Wings and Team Russia superstar Pavel Datsyuk in attendance, the Canadians took a quick lead, though it was squandered when Team USA scored with 33 seconds to go in the first period.

 The second period was very back and forth. The United States grabbed an early goal, but a bad break and a funny bounce tied the game for Canada.

 The third period offered the U.S. numerous power play chances that proved impossible to convert, and the game entered overtime locked at two apiece. The next goal would win the U18 gold medal.

 That goal would come from 16-year-old Jincy Dunne of Missouri, and Bizal and her teammates poured on to the ice to celebrate.

The 22 ladies in red, white, and blue faced towards the American flag next to the scoreboard and sang along to the Star Spangled Banner while their first gold medal in three years hung around their necks.

Bizal finished this year’s tournament with one goal, coming in the first game against Team Canada. Bizal, who has officially committed to play hockey at Boston College next year, will rejoin the HHS girls hockey team for their game against Eden Prairie on Saturday, Jan 17. The Royals compiled a 3-2 record in Bizal’s absence (11-7-1 overall).