Show-Me Games!
August 08, 2006
Billy and I played this weekend in Springfield, Missouri in the annual Show-Me Sate games with the Tulsa Fishbones. It was great skating with him. I absolutely love being on the ice with Bill...just like when we were kids. Bill played defense with me, so we were the Ruggiero duo on the blueline...and I have to point out that Bill, who is usually a goalie, had a sweet hatrick in the first game. All the guys were great on the team and we came away with a Silver Medal, coming up just short in the final game...maybe next year!
(Thanks for everything Dwayne, Al, and the rest of the team!)
SISTER, BROTHER PLAY NICE ON ICE
Angela and Billy Ruggiero enjoy time together as hockey teammates.
T.J. Brice
For the News-Leader
California: Sand, sun and surf, right?
Not for Angela and Billy Ruggiero.
The brother-and-sister duo found their calling on the ice of a hockey rink.
"My dad," Angela said when giving credit for the family's hockey prowess. "It just became a family sport. We traveled together, it kept us out of trouble and kept the family together."
The pair found themselves in Springfield over the weekend for the annual Missouri Show-Me State Games at Jordan Valley Ice Rink.
With an "open weekend" designation, teams from outside of the state of Missouri are allowed to participate in the Games to help fill the brackets. This allowed the Ruggiero's Tulsa Fishbonz squad to make the trip.
And it was another chance for the brother and sister who grew up in California to suit up side-by-side.
"We've always tried to play together," Billy said. "For one its fun, and we are traveling so much in our lives, to be able to meet in a place like Missouri for a weekend of hockey."
Angela, 26, also has made a splash on the international stage. A three-time member of the U.S. Women's Olympic hockey team, Angela has three medals (one gold, one silver and one bronze) to go with her five silver medals from World Championship competition.
She has also written a book and is helping to bring recognition to women's hockey in America.
"I think that it's great that little girls can look up to the NHL players, but now there are women players that they can see," Angela said. "They can set goals for themselves that are realistic."
The two also made history in 2005 when they suited up for the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League. It was the first time in any professional sport that a brother and sister had played in the same game. Angela recorded an assist and is still the only woman to record a point in professional hockey.
"It's definitely opening some eyes for one thing," Angela said of her pro hockey experience. "It definitely helps to put women's hockey on the map."
While the Ruggieros and the Fishbonz came up on the short end of a 6-3 championship game score, the Games left a positive impression on the Olympian.
"This is a great tournament," Angela said. "It is run really well.
"It's great to come down here and see that it is in these non-traditional areas."
Sounds like you had a great time. It's nice to see siblings have fun and share a friendship later in life. Not every family gets to do that.
Posted by: Michael at August 25, 2006 12:05 AM