Caroline Harvey is the future of USA’s women’s hockey team

Credit: Caroline Harvey (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)

BRAMPTON – You know the old saying, “Never meet your idols”? Don’t tell that to Caroline Harvey.

At just 20 years old, Harvey has already been surrounded by legends of the game, many of whom she looked up to growing up. The recently retired Brianna Decker tops her list, so it made it extra special when she had her as a coach twice at the U-18 World Championship.

“She was intense,” Harvey said with a smile. “She’s a great coach, though. She expects a lot out of you and I appreciate having had her as a coach.”

It meant the world to Harvey when she got to skate alongside Decker at the 2021 World Championship and again for a game at the 2022 Olympics. Decker was injured in that outing and recently called it a career, but it’s an opportunity Harvey didn’t take for granted.

It’s easy to get starstruck when you’re among the players you admired. But Harvey is now an integral piece of the senior team she strived to make, competing against some of the world’s best players for a chance to win gold. Her rise through the senior ranks has been quick, and at 20, she’s already participating in her third World Championship.

Harvey has been electric early on, scoring twice against Switzerland and snagging a pair of assists against Japan. Both were whomping victories by the Americans, who are hoping to take back the crown from Canada after their rivals won gold the past two years. And it’s in Canada this year, to boot.

Harvey is the third youngest player on the roster, with newcomers Tessa Janecke (18) and Haley Winn (19) joining the team for their first senior team experiences. So Harvey, at her young age, is a mentor of sorts, just like how veterans such as Kendall Coyne Schofield and Hilary Knight were to her.

“It’s always quite the honor to represent our country at the national team level,” Harvey said. “We have a lot of young blood in the mix and I think we’re all doing such a good job at adapting and adjusting to this level.”

Harvey made her NCAA debut with Wisconsin this year, putting up 39 points in 41 games, 19 points clear over the next highest-scoring freshman blueliner. After only playing in international tournaments in 2022, and not getting to play a full schedule the previous year due to COVID-19 restrictions, Harvey wasn’t sure what to expect once she got to the college level.

“Here at the worlds, it’s every team’s top players,” Harvey said. “You have to be a little smarter where you’re placing the puck, where you’re filling lanes and what you’re looking for out there. You have to be diligent and precise with what you’re doing out there.”

In a way, this is the first “proper” senior tournament for Harvey. Her first go-around was during the summer COVID-affected tournament in 2021. The 2022 edition had better fan support, but it wasn’t the same as playing in North America. Now, every night, the building is packed, the crowd is loud and the players are buzzing.

And, if you watch her, you can see how smart she is dishing the puck. Harvey was named to the 2022 World Championship all-star team after putting up three goals and eight points. Already in Brampton, she’s up to seven points in just four games.

Harvey is also willing to show some muscle and get chippy, something that her teammates appreciate – including one of her biggest idols.

“She’s evolved as a player, and the sky is the limit for her,” said captain Hilary Knight. “That’s what’s really exciting. She’s going to be one of the greats.”

Bold words. But many in the sport agree. Already at 20, her game is mature. She thinks the game like a grizzled vet. She’s willing to take risks and get involved in the offense without taking herself out of the play.

The Americans, like always, are favorites to go for gold. They have six players aged 20 or younger, and 11 are 23 or younger. The guard’s a-changing for an American team looking to take the top step of the podium after dominating most of the 2010s.

Harvey understands the pressure – she has come up short at the senior level every time. Even for a juggernaut like the Americans, winning isn’t easy. It’s not like they need any motivation – winning gold on rival soil would be huge. And if they can, the young core will be a big reason why. The Knights and the Kessels and the Steckleins of the world are still vital to the cause, but the new guard is coming, and they’re hungry.

And Caroline Harvey is a big part of that.

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Caroline Harvey is the future of USA’s women’s hockey team

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