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Before 1998

12/04/2016, 10:45pm MST
By Elizabeth Boger

A look back at the 1990 U.S. Women’s World Championship team

When Shawna Davidson could get some of her buddies to watch her college team play at the University of New Hampshire, they might have a sizeable crowd of 150 or 200 people watching that night. 

The Duluth, Minn., native had never played in front of a larger crowd. 

In 1990, she and her teammates on the United States Women’s National Team stepped on the ice during the tournament in Ottawa, Canada. A roaring crowd of almost 10,000 people greeted them from the stands as they prepared to play Canada in the championship game. 

More than 1 million viewers had their eyes glued to television sets in order to catch the first ever IIHF-sectioned international tournament in women’s hockey history. 

This was bigger than anything any of them had been a part of—eight years before the first women’s ice hockey competition in the Olympics. 

Little did Davidson know at the time, she and her teammates were pioneers for the future of women’s ice hockey. They hardly realized the impact they were making. 

“I think we didn’t know any better—in a good way—and it was like, ‘OK, here we are,’” Davidson said. 

The team had a tryout, a few practices and a trip to Ottawa. Many were current rivals in college hockey and were now playing alongside each other. Davidson recalls a very short few weeks spent with her teammates compared to the layers and levels of tryouts associated with modern-day teams of that caliber.

But the chance to represent their country erased any anxieties of the unknown.  

“I don’t think there was anything intimidating about it,” Davidson said. “I think we were just all so honored and excited. We were excited we got a pair of USA Hockey sweatpants and a matching jacket. It wasn’t like we were thinking of having any type of sponsorship and getting paid to play professionally down the line. It was just—wow, look at this, we get to represent the USA.”

Tournament rivals

The U.S. and Canada met in the championship game, both establishing themselves as powerhouse teams as they put up double-digit goal totals and victories against their opponents. 

A rivalry already intact, the teams battled to be crowned the first champion. 

Davidson scored one of Team USA’s two goals that night—her “one-goal bragging right of her career,” she calls it with a laugh. 

Her goal quieted the Canadian crowd at the Civic Centre in Ottawa, even if it was for just a moment. 

Though Canada eventually skated away with the 5-2 victory, the chance to represent the U.S. on a new level gave Davidson and her teammates a reason to be proud. 

“It’s so cliché, but you really were a part of something bigger than yourself there,” Davidson said. 

Making an impact

Davidson was a sophomore in college in 1990, and had to travel to the east coast to lace up her skates and play at the collegiate level. No school in Minnesota (or the Midwest, for that matter) offered women’s hockey at that time.

It wasn’t until the 1990 IIHF Women’s World Championships that the wheels were set in motion.

“Hopefully it opened their eyes in a positive way in regards to this wonderful opportunity that will not only help USA Hockey, but help the game of hockey,” Davidson said. 

Down the road, associations began to juggle the idea of starting girls hockey teams in their associations, while colleges expanded opportunities at the college level.

Davidson credits the late Walter Bush for his unwavering support in something that wasn’t so popular at the time. 

“I’m sure people looked and him and said, ‘What do you mean you’re supporting girls hockey?’” Davidson said. “For him to continue to battle for us, and continue to be such a huge supporter and ambassador when, at times, I’m sure some of his male counterparts—and I don’t mean within USA Hockey, I mean within those other nations—were probably like, ‘Are you kidding me?’” 

Eventually, those nations saw the potential and realized they should jump on board. 

“I think that it showed the countries were ready to invest in the women’s game at the international level,” Davidson said. 

Giving back

Eventually, Davidson’s hockey playing career began to wind down. 

She was out at Lake Placed, a part of the final 40 or 50 people vying for a roster spot on the first Olympic team. She didn’t make the final cut, but the accomplished skater knew she had much to be proud of. 

It wasn’t until later that she truly realized what she had achieved with her teammates on that 1990 team.  

Davidson remained close to the game, serving in various coaching, management and volunteer roles.

Lately, though, she’s been remembering that 1990 team.   

“I’m reflecting on it a lot more now, because we’re trying to get women’s sled hockey to become a Paralympic sport,” Davidson said. “And there I was all those years ago as a player wanting to get that opportunity to have women’s hockey in the Olympics, and now I’m hopefully going to be part or maybe be a pioneer from a coaching perspective with women’s sled hockey team.”

She also keeps busy as a regional scout for the U.S. Women’s National program and with USA Hockey. 

Davidson is just as enthusiastic about the game today as she was all those years ago, and she’s just as passionate about giving back. 

“I look back and I say it all the time, I’m very grateful,” Davidson said. “Hockey has been very, very good to me. So I’m very grateful and humbled for the opportunities I get and realize the importance of giving back.”
 

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