It’s all about giving back.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Olympic women’s hockey team’s first stop back in the United States, just 24 hours after the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games closing ceremony, was to Los Angeles to visit “The Ellen Show” and then attend a Los Angeles Kings game.

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At the game, the team met with the LA Lions girls program, talking with the players about their own journey, signing autographs and spending quality time with them.

U.S. Olympic team captain Meghan Duggan wanted to provide a gift to help continue the growth of girls hockey in the area, as it had helped her U.S. teammate and Eastvale native Cayla Barnes develop her game.

Duggan, through her partner CCM Hockey, made a donation of hockey equipment to the Lions as each girl received a new pair of hockey gloves and goalies received a new CCM stick.

“The sport of hockey has led me to so many opportunities and helped me grow as an athlete, leader and person,” Duggan said. “Being able to give back to the sport and being able to provide the LA Lions with the equipment they need to play is my honor and pleasure.

“Looking forward to seeing some of them on Team USA in the future.”

The Lions program has grown from 65 girls on four teams in 2017-18 to 100 girls on eight teams in 2018-19.

“We could not be more proud to work with an athlete like Meghan, who is committed to giving back to and growing the game of hockey,” said CCM senior director of global marketing and strategy Corry Kelahear. “She is a role model for all the girls that this equipment will give an opportunity to and her drive to see them get involved and have the chance to play is infectious.”

“Growing the game of hockey is one of our organization’s primary goals and the LA Lions program is a tremendous representative of not only that growing program but our community on the whole,” added Kings president Luc Robitaille.

Photos/LA Kings

— Matt Mackinder

(Dec. 28, 2018)