Meghan Agosta ’11 Meghan Agosta would appear to lead a charmed life. Everything she touches seems to turn to gold. She already had her frst Olympic gold medal when she arrived at Mercyhurst, where her career (2006-2011) was the stuf of legends: a four-time All-American, she fnished her NCAA career as the leading scorer in Division 1 women's hockey history. She took a year of from her studies to train for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, where she won gold #2. After winning her third gold in Sochi, Agosta returned to campus in 2014 where fans lined up to meet her and check out her medals. This year she set her sights on a fourth gold medal in Pyeongchang, South Korea. In addition, she has experienced the rare opportunity of fulflling both of her life’s passions: ice hockey and police work. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Mercyhurst and is a constable with the Vancouver Police Department. Balancing Olympic prep and working full time as a police ofcer isn’t easy, but Agosta squeezes in gym and ice time whenever she can. Since there is no women’s hockey program in Vancouver, she plays on the Valley West Hawks men’s team in the British Columbia Major Midget League and the Vancouver Police Men’s Hockey Team. She took a one-year leave of absence from the police force to train with Team Canada in Calgary. She said she was as enthusiastic about her fourth go-round at the Olympics as she was her frst. “The Olympics never get old,” she said. “It’s always a new journey.” She isn’t yet calling this her last Olympics, although she turned 31 during the Games. “I want to inspire the younger generation to do something special with their lives,” she said, promising to continue the pursuit of her passions for as long as she can.
Bailey Bram ’12 Bailey Bram remembers sitting in the hallway of Team Canada’s headquarters four years ago, waiting to hear if she had made the roster for the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, only to learn she was out, the very last player cut. It was devastating. She took comfort in the support of her family, and then went of to play hockey in Sweden. “I needed to get away and heal,” she said. She also needed to do some real soul-searching on what to do next with her life. Ultimately, she decided to stick with hockey and try again for the Olympics. Fast-forward four years, waiting for the 2018 roster to be called: same place, same hope, same sick-to-your-stomach feeling. “I couldn’t even breathe,” said Bram. And then the verdict: Bailey Bram was in! “There were tears, lots of tears,” said the 27-year- old. “But I knew I was stronger mentally and physically this time around.” Bailey comes from a hockey family. Her dad, Bill, as head coach of the Eastman Female Selects AA team in Landmark, Manitoba, had an eye for talent. Ultimately seven of his eight kids would play the game, making the Brams one of the most famous hockey families in Manitoba. Bailey and her sister Shelby both played for Mercyhurst. Bram’s family life and her Mercy education also inspired her commitment to service. In Canada, she volunteers for a group called Classroom Champions, which connects underserved students with world-class mentors. As a mentor, she creates classroom video lessons on topics like healthy living, diversity and goal-setting. Part of her life’s purpose, she said, is to inspire others, especially those who have been through hard times. After all, she knows how it feels— that agony of defeat. But, she also knows, there’s always tomorrow. She is engaged. She just bought a new house. And, she’s fnally part of Team Canada.
Emma Nuutinen Being named to Finland’s women’s ice hockey team for the 2018 Olympic Games was a mixed bag for Mercyhurst forward Emma Nuutinen. She was honored and excited to make the team, but disappointed that fellow Laker Vilma Tanskanen, her best friend since childhood, wouldn’t be joining her. The women, who grew up in Vantaa, Finland, played together in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, and both competed for a spot this year. Nuutinen was one of 23 women to make the roster; Tanskanen was named frst alternate. Despite the fact that Nuutinen headed to Pyeongchang alone, she felt she was better prepared physically and mentally this year than she was four years ago, when she was only 17. “Finland’s women’s hockey has taken big steps ahead in the past couple of years,” she said. “Competition to earn a spot for the Olympic team this year was very difcult and it demanded improving my speed on the ice. I worked a lot with my weaknesses and I’m happy that it paid of. I’m defnitely a better player now than I was in 2014.” Nuutinen and Tanskanen came to Mercyhurst this academic year from the University of North Dakota, which eliminated its women’s ice hockey program, and both performed extremely well for the Lakers. Nuutinen said, “I’m more than happy that I found a new home at Mercyhurst. I made the decision to come here after my visit. I loved how small and pretty the campus was and everyone I met was very nice and friendly to me.” Nuutinen hopes to graduate with degrees in marketing and sport business, but said she’s not sure what career path she’ll pursue. For now, it’s all hockey.
’ Medal Update The women of Team Canada took the silver medal, losing in the gold-medal fnal to Team USA. Team Finland captured the women s bronze medal. The men of Team USA fell to the Czech Republic in the quarterfnals.
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