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36 /MARCH.APRIL.2018 USICERINKS.COM NGB News USA Hockey & U.S. Figure Skating , Team USA won the bronze medal in the team event at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. The final day of the team event was highlighted by a 137.53-point program from two-time Olympian Mirai Nagasu, who became the first American woman to land a triple Axel at the Olympic Games. The score marked Nagasu's international career-best which put her in 2nd place in the ladies' free skate segment, and earned nine points toward Team USA's overall total score of 62. "Four years ago when, I was left off the (Olympic) team, I wanted to make another Olympic Team, and I knew I would really have to be something special," Nagasu said. "So to become the first American (ladies figure skater) to land a triple Axel at the Olympic Games is historical, and no one can take that away from me." Adam Rippon earned seven points for Team USA with a clean free skate worth 172.98. The performance marked Rippon's Olympic debut. Maia and Alex Shibutani secured the United States' second consecutive Olympic team event bronze by placing second in the free dance with 112.01 points, earning another seven points for Team USA. J Bringing Home Bronze—Team USA Wins Bronze In Olympic Team Event Taking it Outside , The 13th annual Labatt Blue/ USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championships wrapped up on February 11th with 19 teams bringing home trophies. The three-day event held on Dollar Lake tucked away in the Northwoods of Wisconsin was a success once again. "I believe it's the best one yet," USA Hockey tournament director Katie Holmgren said. "I feel like every year it seems like it gets better for us. I hope it's the same for everybody else." Just under 300 teams participated in this year's event. USA Hockey used the same format for its rink setup this year as it did for 2017. The 24 rinks were split into quadrants of six sheets of ice. There were 12 rinks on each side separated with a large open area and the Blue Zone, a spot where participants can listen to music and enjoy a few frosty beverages provided by the tournament sponsor. The pond hockey tournament is the USA Hockey Adult department's largest event each year, requiring the organization to pour its resources into the event so it will go off without a hitch. But it wouldn't be so successful each year if it wasn't for everyone outside of USA Hockey who put in so much time and effort. "We can't thank the community of Eagle River enough for everything they do for us on the lead up and while we're here," Holmgren said. The 14th Annual Labatt Blue USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championships will take place February 8-10, 2019. Online registration will open in August. , Temps were perfect—for ice and players— at this year's Pond Hockey Championships. , For the second straight year Team USA brought home bronze thanks to a team effort.