When 18-year-old Carolyn Harvey left the U.S. in June. Participated in the women's national team selection camp, she was the youngest player there. And he had no idea what his next few months would look like.
If Harvey didn't make the national hockey team, she was set to enroll for her freshman year at the University of Wisconsin next week. He had already selected an English class 100.
And if he made the roster? Harvey will postpone joining her old teammates for the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship in Calgary, a month-long residency program in Minnesota, and eventually the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing.
"It was a little nerve-wracking," Harvey said, "not knowing how things would play out."
Harvey, a rescue worker who grew up in Massachusetts, stood outside during the trial. She was too good not to be put on the roster.
"She's very skilled," said veteran American defender Megan Keller. "I really enjoy watching her practice. It's a lot of fun watching her, especially at her age, the things she can do with the puck, her skating abilities. She's become a little energizer there too. "
Harvey will join the Badgers next spring. By the time she gets there, she could be a household name.
American women's hockey sits on the international throne right now. The team overcame its Olympic hump by beating rival Canada in 2018 for its first Olympic gold medal in 20 years. Before they have a chance to defend themselves in Beijing, the women will compete in the world championships, which starts on Friday and runs through August 31. The Americans have won the last five tournaments, and eight of the last nine.
But the pandemic's stopping and running has been challenging - a brutal gamble of cancellations, reduced snow time and reduced visibility. When the U.S. Starting the world with a game against Switzerland on Friday, it would have been 859 days since the team last played in a major international tournament.
In that time, there has been significant turnover on the roster. Captain Meghan Duggan, twins Jocelyn Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando (who scored the winning and scoring goals in the 2018 Olympic gold medal game) and 15-year veteran Casey Bellamy have all hung up their skates over the past year.
"We have a lot of veterans, and the girls who made this program have retired," Keller said. "World has been canceled twice especially in these last two years, you've got more new faces, new teammates and some new blood. It's exciting to see this new group finally get together. I guess That we have a really good mix."
Enter Harvey, who starts a youth movement. He is one of four Americans to play at the world championships in the 2000s – joining Britta Curl, Lacey Eden and Abby Murphy – and one of a total of seven rookies.
As Keller put it, "one of the best things about being on the national team is being able to play alongside your role model," and Harvey is already experiencing that. Growing up, Harvey said she always looked up to Bellamy.
"We were in two camps together before he retired; I got to learn a lot from him," Harvey said. "Nice to hear what she had to say, but also see how she handled herself. She was really fun to be around, but when it was time to get serious, when we were rehearsing, or even You can see how closed she was when she was getting hot, or when she was cold. She was funny, and put out that side of herself when appropriate, but she changed and closed when she needed to could have been done."
Harvey will get the chance to play with a few players — like Hilary Knight, who enrolled in Wisconsin 14 years before Harvey — but she's trying to get as much knowledge as possible from as many sources as possible.
For their five-day quarantine in Calgary, Harvey Lamoureux brought along the twins' book, "Dare to Make History."
He also has some experience with his new teammates, though not a typical relationship. One of the Americans' alternate captains, Brianna Decker, was an assistant coach with the under-18 team Harvey. And Keller's roommate at Boston College was one of Harvey's coaches in club hockey, revealing that Harvey is rarely called Caroline.
"When I was little, my sister couldn't pronounce Caroline, so she called me KK," Harvey said. "We were really young, but it stuck."
Harvey didn't find it too difficult to adjust to the senior team. He and Keller are planning a TikTok dance for their teammates. Harvey has the same interests as his old peers, including Netflix shows like "Outer Banks" and "All-American." Music in the locker room is a different story.
"When music is playing, we're constantly asking, 'Well, who knows,' whether it's new or old," Keller said.
Adds Harvey: "I know my parents' songs. They're not my parents' age, but I know some of the songs differently."
For Harvey, it has been a transition to a level of top competition.
"When you're invited to a national team camp, it's the best of the best," she said. "It's so intimidating to see who you're going up against. I was really nervous at first, I was just getting used to these girls and the pace. Being the youngest and being here is definitely a horror." There was talk, but now I feel comfortable around him."
Harvey has been comfortable around the rink his entire life. Her father would take her to her older brother's practices, and would turn her stroller around to see Harvey. By 3 o'clock, she was on skates. Apart from a brief cameo in Goalkeeper, Harvey has played the role of defense throughout his life.
"I love being able to see the full snow and watch the plays develop," she said. "I also like to be aggressive sometimes, and having that aspect to my game."
Keller said that besides Harvey's skills, the best aspects of her game are her speed and offensive abilities, "but she's not afraid to be physical."
Harvey got off to a good start. In the first exhibition against Russia this week, Harvey took a penalty. Shortly after, he took a pass from Knight, took a shot, then scored on his rebound to reach the U.S. Took a 3-0 lead. It fits in with the advice I got from Decker: play free. do not think much. Let your instincts take over.
Harvey knew she wanted to play at this level eventually. He never thought it would come so soon.
"I didn't really think much about it a year ago," she said. "Looking at it now, thinking about the situation I'm in, it's crazy how things are sometimes."