Brianna Decker was screaming, her agony audible for most everyone to hear in an arena that was nearly empty. The cries kept coming, the first period’s clock stopped at 10:58.
Within an hour, American hockey officials confirmed what most everyone could assume: Decker, one of the most formidable and experienced players for the U.S. women’s team, would not return to the game against Finland on Thursday. Her status for the remainder of the Games appeared in doubt, a potentially harsh blow to American ambitions to repeat as Olympic champions.
The United States did not bring a taxi squad of replacement players to Beijing.