Warroad, Minn., native Gigi Marvin is an elder stateswoman of sorts when it comes to the U.S. Women’s Olympic hockey team.
“We were talking about that my first USA camp was a 15 camp,” Marvin said with a big smile. “Cayla Barnes was 3 years old.”
Barnes will turn 19 in January.

But even at 30, which is somewhat older in the world of hockey, Marvin is still a meaningful contributor on Team USA – notching two points in the team’s recent appearance in the Four Nations Cup. She has switched from forward to defense and flourished. Her attitude helps with part of that.  She works hard to keep up, and takes good care of herself and her body. But she also says there is more than that to staying in the game as long as she has.

“The good Lord has put me in a great opportunity; he has blessed me with talent,” Marvin said. “And I have been surrounded by amazing coaches and teammates to challenge me and push me and make me into the best player I can be. Whether it’s at defense or at forward, it’s just whatever is asked of me and I hope to put the best foot forward and I hope to be there for my teammates.”

Those teammates are equally dedicated to Marvin. Gigi has helped mentor so many players on this team, including Roseville, Minn., native Lee Stecklein, who is now on the team with Marvin for her second Olympic Games. Stecklein believes that even though older teammates, like Marvin and Megan Duggan, are selective about when to speak up and offer advice, when they do it, teammates always stop and listen.

“They have so much experience and poise that it’s really easy to follow,” Stecklein said. “When they choose to be vocal, you just want to stop and listen to everything they have to say because you know that they have been there and they have that experience. It’s something that you wish to have some day.”

When you look at Marvin’s hockey résumé, it’s easy to see why so many players would like to emulate her. She has been a part of seven IIHF World Championship teams at various levels – winning gold an astounding five times. She’s twice won silver at the Olympic Winter Games – both times unfortunately, losing to Canada (something she’s openly a little bitter about). Even with all of that success, Marvin believes this year’s team could be the best she’s ever been a part of.

“It’s so impressive. Right now, this is by far the best women’s hockey we’ve ever played,” Marvin said. “I look at some of my teammates and just the things that they are doing at such a high pace. Women’s hockey has come so far. It’s leaps and bounds from what it was four years ago. In 2014, we were completely different from 2010, and we even joked that we wouldn’t have even made the team had we stayed the same.”

Lucky for Team USA, Marvin has been able to adapt with the times and be a real force for this team. And even though she has more experience than most, she sees value in all the different ages on this roster as they move towards these Olympic Games.

“I love my teammates, they are amazing,” Marvin said. “You know, you look at Cayla Barnes and the poise she plays with, it doesn’t matter what age she is. That is something I was told when I was on the team for the first time. It doesn’t matter if they are young or old, it’s the same kind of hockey that they have always played.“

That’s good news for Team USA, who have won gold at the IIHF World Championships seven of the last eight years. Now, if Gigi Marvin has her way, she can round out her illustrious career with the only thing she hasn’t achieved so far, an Olympic gold medal.
 

Photo: Susan McPherson