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She stays in contact with the Bulldogs She stays in contact with the Bulldogs coaching staff and watches videos of games coaching staff and watches videos of games and practices to offer her advice to the team and practices to offer her advice to the team from afar. She also helps coordinate the from afar. She also helps coordinate the weekly goaltender practice plans. weekly goaltender practice plans. "I have a lot of other time commitments "I have a lot of other time commitments this year, so it was kind of limited on what this year, so it was kind of limited on what I was able to do," Rooney said. I was able to do," Rooney said. She still finds time to relax when she's She still finds time to relax when she's away from the rink. Spending a few years away from the rink. Spending a few years in Duluth for school and hockey, Rooney in Duluth for school and hockey, Rooney said she got accustomed to the outdoors, so said she got accustomed to the outdoors, so she loves going for hikes, walks and gener- she loves going for hikes, walks and gener- ally spending time outside. ally spending time outside. "That's my escape from things," she said. "That's my escape from things," she said. Another way she escapes from the busy- Another way she escapes from the busy- ness of her life? Rooney just moved in to ness of her life? Rooney just moved in to a brand new house in Hugo. Planning for a brand new house in Hugo. Planning for that and buying home décor takes up some that and buying home décor takes up some of her time as well. of her time as well. STAYING FOCUSED STAYING FOCUSED Rooney's most famous moment in her hock- Rooney's most famous moment in her hock- ey career was her gold-medal-clinching ey career was her gold-medal-clinching save on Canada's Meghan Agosta to help save on Canada's Meghan Agosta to help lead Team USA to a 3-2 shootout victory lead Team USA to a 3-2 shootout victory at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games. at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games. Obv iously the shootout and gold meda l Obv iously the shootout and gold meda l a re hig hlig hts. But for Rooney, it wa s a re hig hlig hts. But for Rooney, it wa s rea lly specia l wa lk ing into the opening rea lly specia l wa lk ing into the opening ceremonies " hand-in-hand w ith a ll the ceremonies " hand-in-hand w ith a ll the other elite Team USA athletes," she said. other elite Team USA athletes," she said. That was the moment that rea lly made That was the moment that rea lly made her rea lize she wa s at the Oly mpics, her rea lize she wa s at the Oly mpics, look ing up at the crowd a nd seeing a look ing up at the crowd a nd seeing a packed stadium. packed stadium. Her other favorite memory happened Her other favorite memory happened before the Games even started, when Team before the Games even started, when Team USA played Canada in "The Time Is Now USA played Canada in "The Time Is Now Tour" Dec. 3, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in Tour" Dec. 3, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Canada won 2-1 in overtime, but St. Paul. Canada won 2-1 in overtime, but Rooney got the nod in net. Rooney got the nod in net. "Just hav ing my whole fa m i ly there "Just hav ing my whole fa m i ly there a nd play i ng i n f ront of t hem , t hat 's a nd play i ng i n f ront of t hem , t hat 's something that I'll a lways remember as something that I'll a lways remember as well," Rooney sa id. well," Rooney sa id. Since winning the gold medal, Rooney Since winning the gold medal, Rooney returned to play with the Bulldogs for the returned to play with the Bulldogs for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. She also 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. She also earned a spot on the 2019 and 2020 IIHF earned a spot on the 2019 and 2020 IIHF Women's World Championship teams and Women's World Championship teams and joined the professional ranks for 2020- joined the professional ranks for 2020- 21 with the Professional Women's Hockey 21 with the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA). Players Association (PWHPA). The mental side of the game is a huge The mental side of the game is a huge part of hockey, especially for goalten- part of hockey, especially for goalten- ders, Rooney acknowledged. Her variety ders, Rooney acknowledged. Her variety of experiences the past few years have of experiences the past few years have caused her to become stronger mentally, caused her to become stronger mentally, she added. she added. "Just from being in the Olympics, going "Just from being in the Olympics, going back to college, going in and out of college back to college, going in and out of college on the national team, those were definite- on the national team, those were definite- ly mental challenges in itself that caused ly mental challenges in itself that caused me to develop as an athlete," Rooney said. me to develop as an athlete," Rooney said. "I'm constantly using the resources that "I'm constantly using the resources that we have available to the team to continue we have available to the team to continue to sharpen my mental skills." to sharpen my mental skills." She also continues to move for ward She also continues to move for ward approaching each day with an "I can be approaching each day with an "I can be better" mentality. Whether that's part of better" mentality. Whether that's part of the national team, with the PWHPA or the national team, with the PWHPA or working one-on-one in practice, coming in working one-on-one in practice, coming in with that mindset that she can get so much with that mindset that she can get so much better and that she wants to be better has better and that she wants to be better has allowed her to "develop and continue to allowed her to "develop and continue to develop," she said. develop," she said. Being named to the 2022 Olympic Being named to the 2022 Olympic roster to have another shot at a gold roster to have another shot at a gold medal for Team USA is very special for medal for Team USA is very special for Rooney, she said. Even being on the res- Rooney, she said. Even being on the res- idency roster alone "is very humbling," idency roster alone "is very humbling," she added. she added. "To be back again, to the opening ceremo- "To be back again, to the opening ceremo- nies, back on the Olympic stage will just nies, back on the Olympic stage will just mean so much to me," Rooney said. mean so much to me," Rooney said. 22 M H J ON L I N E . C O M | J A N / F E B 2 0 2 2 I'm constantly using the resources that we have available to the team to continue to sharpen my mental skills." Rooney relies on her athleticism to make big saves. ROONEY'S WORLD Photo / Jeff Cable