Ten Black Bears competed in last winter’s Olympics in Italy
By Chad Finn ’94
Two current athletes came home with precious medals. Another came oh-so-close to doing the same.
And all 10 former University of Maine athletes that competed in the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, over three weeks in February came back with precious memories.
The medalists included men’s hockey goalie and current Bruins star Jeremy Swayman ’21, who won gold with the United States team, and Swiss women’s hockey player Rahel Enzler ’24, whose team claimed the bronze. John Tortorella ’81, who played hockey for the Black Bears in the ’70s, also won gold as an assistant coach for the US men. “Winning gold is an unbelievable feeling, an incredible feeling, that I’ll cherish forever,’’ said Swayman, who beat Denmark in his one appearance in Milan, with Connor Hellebucyk taking a star turn as the regular in net for the US. The US beat Canada in an overtime thriller to win the gold-medal game, 2-1. The stakes weren’t quite as high for Enzler’s Swiss team in the women’s bronze-medal matchup with Sweden, but the quest to make the podium and the joy of winning their own overtime showdown — also by a 2-1 score — created a memory that will last a lifetime. “Standing on the ice with the team after the final whistle, realizing what we had achieved together,” said Enzler, who earlier in the tournament scored a goal against powerful Canada, “well, that’s something I will never forget.” Former UMaine track walk-on-turned-stalwart Frankie Del Duca ’14, a member of the men’s bobsled team, is one athlete who could have a valid lament from his competitive Olympic experience. Del Duca piloted the two-man bobsled, teaming with brakeman Josh Williamson. They finished in fourth place, a mere 0.44 seconds behind the bronze-medal winning team from Germany. “It was a thrill to fight for a medal, but tough to miss out,’’ acknowledged Del Duca. “We have finished fourth quite a bit, and I cannot wait until we break through to the medals.” But Del Duca did have an experience that few Olympians can even imagine. He was selected, along with speedskater Erin Jackson, as a Team USA flagbearer for the Parade of Nations during the Opening Ceremonies. Other members of the UMaine Olympic contingent included Latvian men’s hockey player Eduards Tralmaks ’21, a close friend of Swayman’s who arrived in Orono in the same 2017 recruiting class; and six other women’s hockey players, all forwards and all representing European nations. That group included UMaine’s top two all-time leading scorers, Tereza Vanisova ’20 (Czechia) and Ida Kuoppala ’24 (Finland), as well as Vanisova’s countrywoman and former Black Bear teammate Vendula Pribylova ’20. Luisa and Lilli Welcke — who left Orono for Boston University after one season — skated for Germany, while Anna Caumo had the home crowd in her corner as a member of team Italy. “The game against the US was probably my favorite part of the entire event, even though we lost 6-0,’’ she said. “We got to play against people that I looked up to my entire life, and we did better than most people seemed to expect.” No matter the sport or their individual or team success level in Milan, the Black Bear Olympians all took with them a common thread from the experience: some of their best memories occurred during competition, sure. But so many others were born from the camaraderie and magic of their experiences when they weren’t in the midst of pursuing a medal. “The whole experience blew my expectations out of the water,’’ said Tralmaks, who scored a goal against Sweden on his birthday. “I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew it was goingbe great. I knew the environment, the fans, the village, and all of that would be special. But the whole thing was just surreal, the entire time. I will remember it all for the rest of my life.”Kuoppala said her most satisfying experience, the moment she knows will stay with her forever, was one of her first in Milan.
“The Opening Ceremony was my favorite memory,’’ she said. “That was so cool, and so many people. Seeing all the lights, the Olympic rings, the people. It was an ‘I made it’ moment for sure when you walked into the stadium.”
That sentiment was especially relatable for Del Duca, who said he was completely surprised to be chosen as the flagbearer, and “honored beyond belief” that he was voted by his Team USA teammates across all sports to have the honor. “It was a responsibility and honor I felt deeply, and I thank them for trusting me with it,’’ he said. “The Olympics being in Italy added even more meaning, as just about everyone in my family is of Italian heritage. It felt like a bridge connecting my family’s past with the present.” Del Duca mentioned that he had the chance to catch up with James Reed ’14, a former UMaine track and Team USA Olympic bobsled teammate who was working at these as a photographer. Running into old friends and making some new ones was a common theme among all of the UMaine Olympians. Kuoppala said she’s glad she had the chance to connect at the athletes’ village or the dining hall with fellow former Black Bears Enzler, Vanisova, Pribylova, and the Welcke sisters at one time or another. Almost every athlete interviewed for this story mentioned the camaraderie of the dining hall, which apparently was an excellent spot for people-watching. “One night,’’ said Kuoppala, “I was eating dinner alone and suddenly the whole Canadian men’s hockey team walks in and sits down at the table behind me. So there was Sidney Crosby, Conor McDavid, Macklin Celebrini, and all other famous players just casually eating dinner like everyone else.” Said Enzler, “I also loved meeting athletes I had only seen on TV before. Those little conversations and moments together made the whole experience even more special.” Caumo felt the same way. “I think the best thing was seeing all these famous athletes, these NHL and PWHL players, and having them treat us like we were completely equals. Growing up in a small town in Italy, that was just crazy to me, to have that experience.” The men’s players felt the same sort of kindred connection. “I think going to the dining hall together and having team dinners and meeting the other athletes, it’s just such a great part of the whole Olympic experience,” said Swayman. Tralmaks said it reminded him of UMaine in a sense. “I saw Jeremy, one of my closest friends, in the dining hall a lot, and we got a chance to catch up a few times. It reminded me of when we used to go to the dining commons together on campus.” He paused. “There’s just so many good, positive words I can say about that, and the whole experience. I try to describe it, but sometimes I can’t even find the right words. I’ll remember it all for the rest of my life, I know that. I hope everyone else feels the same. I imagine they do.” won gold with the United States team, and Swiss women’s hockey player Rahel Enzler ’24, whose team claimed the bronze.