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T he accolades keep coming for the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Women's and Paralympic teams. The latest honors came on April 26 at the 2018 Team USA Awards in Washington, D.C. Both teams were bestowed with Best Of The Games honors for their dramatic victories in PyeongChang, South Korea. The women's team escaped a six-round shootout with a 3-2 victory over Canada to bring home the country's first gold medal in 20 years, Every member of the women's team was in attendance to accept the award, which was presented by Ivanka Trump. "After having witnessed so many incredible, inspiring performances by our U.S. teammates in PyeongChang, to have our team earn the Olympic Team of the Games award is truly an honor," said captain Meghan Duggan. "Winning a gold medal with 22 of the strongest women I've ever known was a dream come true for all of us." The U.S. Paralympic Sled Team also needed extra time to defeat Canada, 2-1 in overtime, to capture an unprecedented third straight Paralympic gold medal. Presenting the award to the team was Braedon Monthony, a 9-year-old double amputee who met the team back in February during the 2018 Border Series in Buffalo, N.Y. "It's an absolute honor for us as a team to be recognized in an event like this," said captain Josh Pauls. "Being able to compete for our country in these Games took a lifetime of work, and it's such a great experience to celebrate that here together." P TO THE VICTORS GO THE SPOILS AT TEAM USA AWARD CEREMONY Erica Mitchell's goal gave the USA a 1-0 victory over Canada to claim its second straight gold medal at the second Women's International Para Ice Hockey Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic. U.S. goaltender Gabby Graves-Wake turned aside nine Canadian shots to record the shutout. This year's tournament was once U.S. Women's Sledders Stake Claim To Gold SLED AWARDS again a three-team affair that also featured an all-star team competing as Team Europe. The USA also won the inaugural event four years ago in Brampton, Canada. P JUNE/JULY 2018 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 15 2018 SUMMER GCHOCKEY.COM REGISTER ONLINE TODAY! FULL DAY HALF DAY WEEKLY HOCKEY SCHOOL E U R O P E A N