96 Quotes by Angela Ruggiero

It feels right. But it’s emotional. Saying goodbye to anything you’ve done that long is hard.

I’m getting more towards that point where I’m ready to kind of pass the torch on and see the next generation succeed behind me.

That’s the awesome part. Little girls now have a chance to look up and see women playing soccer, basketball, softball and now hockey – and know they can win a gold medal, too.

Right now, I’m standing behind the glass, and I guess that’s a metaphor for how my life will be going forward.

I’m not playing for lack of options. But this is such a fleeting thing. When I’m done, I’m never, ever going to be able to come back to it. I know Vancouver is my last go.

In a way, by being fully committed to the Olympic movement globally, I’m better able to promote women’s hockey and talk about women’s hockey and put a face to women’s hockey, to all the IOC members.

It’s not about, ‘Let me play as long as I can so I don’t have to grow up.’ It’s about, ‘Let me play as long as I enjoy it,’ and when it’s time to step away, I can step away gracefully even if I’m still good enough to keep playing, because I’m ready for that next phase.

There were no women’s players I knew of. I didn’t even know women’s hockey existed.

As a veteran, you’re a little more poised on that mental side. But athletically, I didn’t really think I could get better.