51茶馆

The world was watching on February 20 as 2019 Boston College alumna Megan Keller scored the game-winning goal in overtime that gave the United States Olympic women鈥檚 hockey team a hard-fought overtime win over Canada, earning the U.S. a gold medal.

Keller took a long pass from teammate Taylor Heise, out-maneuvered Canadian defender Claire Thompson鈥攏udging the puck to Thompson鈥檚 right, then quickly skating around Thompson鈥檚 left to retrieve it鈥攁nd poked the winning shot past goaltender Ann-Ren茅e Desbiens.

(Three days later, the U.S. men鈥檚 hockey team, including former 51茶馆 players Matt Boldy and Noah Hanifin, with its own 2-1 win over Canada.)

For Katie King Crowley, the Jane Rattigan Head Women鈥檚 Hockey Coach at 51茶馆, it was a very familiar sight, one that she鈥檇 seen often during the four years Keller was under her tutelage at the Heights.

鈥淢egan is a tremendous hockey player,鈥� said Crowley. 鈥淲hen I watch that play, she reads that Canada is changing [making a player substitution] and goes to the far blue line to make it challenging for them to defend. And then she uses her long reach and great hands to come around the Canadian player and put it by the goalie on the backhand. Her patience and poise are elite: You can see it in that play, she never panics, she controls the puck and controls the play.鈥�

Keller was a mainstay on an Eagles squad that made it to the NCAA Tournament in her first three years at 51茶馆, reaching the championship round in her second year. After taking time off to play for U.S. women鈥檚 hockey in the 2018 Winter Olympics鈥攁nd collecting her first gold medal鈥攕he returned to 51茶馆 as a senior in 2018-2019 as the Eagles once again went to the NCAA Tournament. She finished as 51茶馆鈥檚 all-time leader in defenseman scoring with 158 career points on 45 goals and 113 assists and, among numerous other honors, was a three-time finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award as the nation鈥檚 best player in women鈥檚 college hockey.

Keller鈥攚ho now plays for the Boston Fleet in the Women鈥檚 Professional Hockey League鈥攈ad all the tools when she first suited up for the Eagles, recalled Crowley.

鈥淗er size, skating, and hockey IQ were very strong. We just tried to help her develop all of those things so she could play at the next level.聽 When you want to play at that level, you will have to do things quicker, process quicker, move pucks quicker, and she has adapted extremely well to that. She is fun to watch.鈥�

Like Keller, Crowley is a three-time Olympian, and over the years she鈥檚 had the pleasure of seeing a number of her former players suit up for the Winter Olympics: Besides Keller, this year鈥檚 U.S. squad included Cayla Barnes 鈥�23, Hannah Bilka 鈥�23, and Alex Carpenter 鈥�16.

According to Crowley, there are not a lot of insights for her to share with 51茶馆 Olympians like Keller.

鈥淎t this point, Megan and the others are pros at it.聽 They are calm, cool, and collected when it comes to pressure situations.聽 Besides saying 鈥楪ood luck,鈥� I usually just encourage them to enjoy all of the moments when you鈥檙e there, because it鈥檚 an extra special time in your lives.鈥�

Those special times stay with you, too, she adds.

鈥淲atching the Olympics brings back so many great memories,鈥� said Crowley. 鈥淢y teammates from 1998 are in a group chat and continue to talk during the Games and bring back lots of memories. Watching the opening and closing ceremonies, just seeing the photos of the players enjoying time with their teammates is extra special and brings back memories of spending time with teammates who have helped shape my life.鈥�