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A day removed from winning an Olympic gold medal as the goaltender on the U.S. women's hockey team, Aerin Frankel was enjoying her final moments in Milan.
Frankel made 30 saves on Feb. 19 as the U.S. eventually defeated Canada, 2-1, on Megan Keller's goal 4:07 into overtime.
"It's been amazing," Frankel, a Westchester County native told USA TODAY Feb. 20. "Just spent so much time with the team, enjoying each other's company. Soaking in the last few days in Milan and kind of reflecting on the big win."
Hilary Knight had tied the game with 2:04 left in the third period with Frankel pulled for an extra attacker. In the process, Knight became the United States' all-time leader in goals (15) and points (33).
Frankel said her perspective on Keller's power move in the three-on-three overtime for the golden backhand goal was limited because of her location on the ice at Milano Santagiulia Ice Arena.
"I couldn't see a whole lot being in the net," Frankel told USA TODAY. "But obviously I knew it trickled in, saw the celebrations from our bench and from Meg on the ice. I just tried to get down to celebrate with my team as fast as I could."
Frankel enjoyed the post-game atmosphere in the locker room.
"It was amazing, just being with each other and kind of a surreal 'pinch me' moment," she told USA TODAY. "Celebrating Hilary and everyone being together is so much fun."
Being teammates with a legend like Knight is not lost on Frankel.
"She's obviously such a clutch player," Frankel said of the five-time Olympic medalist. "To be able to share the ice with her has been amazing. We wanted to send her out the right way with a gold medal. I'm so glad we were able to do that. No more fitting way for her to score that goal than against Canada and the tying goal in the gold-medal game."
Frankel, 26, said she appreciated the support from those in Westchester and Chappaqua. A watch party was held for the gold-medal game at Chappaqua Performing Arts Center. New Castle Supervisor Victoria Tipp suggested a community get together to celebrate Frankel in the near future.
"I've heard from so many people back home and (I'm) definitely feeling the love from them," Frankel said. "I look forward to hopefully bringing the gold medal back to New York and sharing with my support system from back home."
She attended Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua her freshman year before transferring to hockey powerhouse Shattuck-St. Mary's in Minnesota. Frankel played collegiately for five seasons at Northeastern University in Boston, including a grad year granted to her because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She won the Patty Kazmaier Award given to the top NCAA Div. I player in 2021.
Frankel been a member of the Professional Women's Hockey League's Boston Fleet since the league was established in 2023. This season, she is 12-8-3 with a 2.28 goals against average and a .921 save percentage.
And it all started here in Westchester. Frankel played for Rivertown Legends coach Kevin Hagens' Westchester Vipers club team for four seasons.
"The boys couldn't even score on her," Hagens said in January. "She was special from the get-go."
Mike Eruzione, who captained the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" U.S. men's hockey team of college athletes who stunned the Soviet Union, told USA TODAY that Frankel's squad was the best U.S. women's team ever.
"Hearing that is incredible," Frankel said. "I think it’s obviously been so much hard work along the way. It’s just a credit to this team for putting in the work and preparing. The tournament is supposed to be the fun part, where you get to perform, but it’s all the work that you put in beforehand to get you there that is kind of the special part and what you get to enjoy.”
Reporting: Cydney Henderson, Alex Connor, Nancy Haggerty.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Aerin Frankel wants to bring Olympic hockey gold home to Westchester
Continue reading...
Frankel made 30 saves on Feb. 19 as the U.S. eventually defeated Canada, 2-1, on Megan Keller's goal 4:07 into overtime.
"It's been amazing," Frankel, a Westchester County native told USA TODAY Feb. 20. "Just spent so much time with the team, enjoying each other's company. Soaking in the last few days in Milan and kind of reflecting on the big win."
Hilary Knight had tied the game with 2:04 left in the third period with Frankel pulled for an extra attacker. In the process, Knight became the United States' all-time leader in goals (15) and points (33).
Frankel said her perspective on Keller's power move in the three-on-three overtime for the golden backhand goal was limited because of her location on the ice at Milano Santagiulia Ice Arena.
"I couldn't see a whole lot being in the net," Frankel told USA TODAY. "But obviously I knew it trickled in, saw the celebrations from our bench and from Meg on the ice. I just tried to get down to celebrate with my team as fast as I could."
Frankel enjoyed the post-game atmosphere in the locker room.
"It was amazing, just being with each other and kind of a surreal 'pinch me' moment," she told USA TODAY. "Celebrating Hilary and everyone being together is so much fun."
Being teammates with a legend like Knight is not lost on Frankel.
"She's obviously such a clutch player," Frankel said of the five-time Olympic medalist. "To be able to share the ice with her has been amazing. We wanted to send her out the right way with a gold medal. I'm so glad we were able to do that. No more fitting way for her to score that goal than against Canada and the tying goal in the gold-medal game."
Frankel, 26, said she appreciated the support from those in Westchester and Chappaqua. A watch party was held for the gold-medal game at Chappaqua Performing Arts Center. New Castle Supervisor Victoria Tipp suggested a community get together to celebrate Frankel in the near future.
"I've heard from so many people back home and (I'm) definitely feeling the love from them," Frankel said. "I look forward to hopefully bringing the gold medal back to New York and sharing with my support system from back home."
She attended Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua her freshman year before transferring to hockey powerhouse Shattuck-St. Mary's in Minnesota. Frankel played collegiately for five seasons at Northeastern University in Boston, including a grad year granted to her because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She won the Patty Kazmaier Award given to the top NCAA Div. I player in 2021.
Frankel been a member of the Professional Women's Hockey League's Boston Fleet since the league was established in 2023. This season, she is 12-8-3 with a 2.28 goals against average and a .921 save percentage.
And it all started here in Westchester. Frankel played for Rivertown Legends coach Kevin Hagens' Westchester Vipers club team for four seasons.
"The boys couldn't even score on her," Hagens said in January. "She was special from the get-go."
Mike Eruzione, who captained the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" U.S. men's hockey team of college athletes who stunned the Soviet Union, told USA TODAY that Frankel's squad was the best U.S. women's team ever.
"Hearing that is incredible," Frankel said. "I think it’s obviously been so much hard work along the way. It’s just a credit to this team for putting in the work and preparing. The tournament is supposed to be the fun part, where you get to perform, but it’s all the work that you put in beforehand to get you there that is kind of the special part and what you get to enjoy.”
Reporting: Cydney Henderson, Alex Connor, Nancy Haggerty.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Aerin Frankel wants to bring Olympic hockey gold home to Westchester
Continue reading...
