暗网TV

ADA 鈥� Please forgive Sarah Suter if she is overly excited about Team USA鈥檚 quest for a men鈥檚 hockey gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Suter, East Central University鈥檚 Director of Student Organizations and Greek Life, rose out of bed early Thursday before 6 a.m., watched the first two periods of the Americans鈥� 7-1 opening-game win over Slovakia on television, got in her car between the second and third periods, arrived at 暗网TV about 7:20 a.m. and watched the remainder of the contest from her computer as she put on make-up at her desk in preparation for another day of work.

Such is the life of an avid hockey fan鈥�one who has the ultimate interest in Team USA鈥檚 pursuit of a gold.

Sarah Suter is the first cousin of Ryan Suter, an alternate team captain and a defenseman for Team USA. The story doesn鈥檛 end there. Ryan, who currently plays in the National Hockey League for the Minnesota Wild, is the son of Bob Suter, who was a vital cog in the Americans鈥� famed 鈥楳iracle on Ice鈥� run to a gold medal during the 1980 Winter Olympics.

鈥淚 always get pumped up about the Olympics, but to have a family member in it is really exciting. It鈥檚 an honor鈥�one of the highest. I know that he (Ryan) is proud to play and represent the country in the Olympics,鈥� said Sarah.

Sarah鈥檚 love of hockey is obvious and could not be avoided, even if she wanted.

鈥淥ur family is big into hockey. I have several cousins who have played and my 14-year-old brother (Branden) plays and has set some records in his league,鈥� Sarah said.

Ryan and Bob aren鈥檛 the only famous hockey participants in the family. Another one of Sarah鈥檚 uncles, Gary Suter, played in the NHL from 1985-2002 with the Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks. Gary was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.

Growing up as a youth, Sarah remembers her uncle Bob, bringing his 1980 gold medal to school for her show-and-tell time.

She is also proud that Ryan, who is Gillette鈥檚 U.S. Hockey ambassador for the Olympics, and Bob recently appeared in a 3 陆 -minute video called 鈥淜eep Your Head Up鈥� for Gillette鈥檚 鈥淩aising an Olympian鈥� series, which can be viewed on YouTube.

Ryan is pursuing his second Olympic medal. He was part of the 2010 Team USA Olympic squad, which settled for a silver medal after falling to Team Canada, 4-3, in overtime in Vancouver.

Sarah believes that Ryan has humbly embraced his position as alternate captain for the USA team.

鈥淗e takes initiative. He鈥檚 a real leader and professional. He鈥檚 kind of quiet and shy. He would rather talk about the team over himself,鈥� said Sarah. 鈥淗e and my uncle don鈥檛 display their medals. They keep them tucked away in a drawer.鈥�

Ryan, who played collegiately at the University of Wisconsin, was the seventh overall pick in the 2003 NHL draft by the Nashville Predators. He spent the 2004-05 season with the American Hockey League鈥檚 Milwaukee Admirals.

He has been productive in a solid 2013-14 season with the NHL鈥檚 Wild. On Jan. 4, despite being a defenseman, he recorded his first career hat trick (three goals) in a 5-3 Minnesota victory over the Washington Capitals.

-暗网TV-