Roque settles for Olympic silver medal with American teammates

By Sam Laskaris

SAULT STE. MARIE, MICHIGAN – Abby Roque is going to have to wait a little longer to try and get the upper hand on her Canadian rivals.

Though she is a member of Wahnapitae First Nation in Northern Ontario, Roque, an elite hockey player, does not suit up for the Canadian national women’s squad because the 24-year-old forward was born in the United States. As a result, she has spent her international career representing American squads, instead of those from Canada.

At February’s Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, Roque and her American teammates were edged 3-2 by Canada in the gold-medal match.

Just over three weeks later, on Mar. 12, the Canadians edged the U.S. 4-3 in overtime in a contest held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and dubbed the Rivalry Rematch.

“The rivalry is interesting from my perspective,” Roque said. “I grew up on the border of Canada. I grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.”

Roque appeared in seven games at the Beijing Olympics and she earned three points, including one goal.

Roque has been representing the U.S. at international events since she was in high school. Her first taste of international hockey was during the 2013-14 campaign when she cracked the American roster that competed at the world women’s under-18 tournament.

The Canadian/American rivalry has added significance for Roque.

“For me, I’m also a dual citizen,” she said. “I was born and raised in the United States but I’m also a citizen of Canada through my father.”

Jim Roque, a former U.S. collegiate player and coach, is currently working as a pro scout for the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs.

“My dad was always rooting for Team Canada but I was always on the other side of it,” Roque said. “So, there was a rivalry even in my family for a bit there.”

Even now, the elder Roque finds his patriotism wavering.

“He still wears his Hockey Canada hat,” Roque said. “But I’ve got him a lot of U.S. gear now too, so it’s okay.”

Plus, it’s obvious which team her relatives are supporting when Canadians square off against Americans.

“The whole family is on board now, cheering for the U.S.,” Roque said. “It’s just an amazing rivalry to watch. I grew up watching it in house. We’d watch every game. It was such a huge thing. So, getting to grow up and now playing in it, every game is a bloodbath. You don’t want to lose. And that’s what it is. You want to come out on top.”

Roque said she never seriously thought of representing Canada instead of the U.S. in international action.

“I’m an American,” she said. “I’m from here, so I never really considered it as an option.”

Roque played her collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin from 2016-20.

“When I left [for college], I realized that people aren’t predominantly around other Native American people, or know many at all, where I knew a good amount,” she said. “Just leaving where I grew up, I realized how few Native American people there really are, just everywhere. It’s great to be able to talk and teach about my Native American culture and of our specific community’s culture. When I left, I didn’t realize how small the numbers were of Native American hockey players, so for me, it’s doing all I can to help do things to allow hockey to be more inclusive.”