| abstract | - Women's ice hockey tournaments have been staged at the Olympic Games since 1998. The United States women's national ice hockey team has participated in every tournament since then. Seven goaltenders and forty-five skaters have played for the United States. Men's ice hockey had been introduced at the 1920 Summer Olympics, and added to the Winter Olympic Games in 1924. In July 1992, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to approve women's hockey as an Olympic event to first be held at the 1998 Winter Olympics. Until 1998, international women's hockey had been dominated by Canada's national team. Canadian teams had won every World Championship; however, by 1997, the American team had improved and was evenly matched with Canada. In thirteen games played between the two teams in 1997, Canada won seven and the United States six. Canada and the United States dominated the preliminary round of the 1998 tournament, and in their head-to-head match up during the final round-robin game, the United States won 7–4. The two teams met again in the gold medal game, which the United States won 3–1. The Canadian and American teams continued their rivalry, and in a rematch between the two at the 2002 Winter Olympics, Canada won 3–2. In the 2006 Olympics, the American team advanced to the semi-finals before falling to Sweden. It marked the first time in international competition that the final would not feature the United States against Canada. The Americans defeated Finland for the bronze medal. The 2010 team included fifteen players making their Olympic debut. The Americans again met the Canadians in the final, and in a repeat of 2002 the Canadians took the gold, giving the Americans their second silver. The United States has won one gold medal, two silver medals, and one bronze medal in women's hockey. One player (Cammi Granato) has been inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Hall of Fame and the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. In addition, the 1998 gold medal-winning team was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Two women (Angela Ruggiero and Jenny Potter) have participated in all four tournaments and won four medals (one gold, two silvers, and one bronze). Potter is the all-time leading American scorer in the women's tournament at the Olympics, with 11 goals, 19 assists and 30 points. National teams are co-ordinated by USA Hockey and players are chosen by the team's management staff.
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