Akane Hosoyamada ’15 is competing for Group Japan in her second journey the Olympics. She 1st competed in the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Wintertime Video games. Image courtesy of the Japan Ice Hockey Federation.
As a younger lady growing up in Banff, Alberta, Canada, Akane Hosoyamada ’15 used a good deal of time on the ice with her brother participating in hockey. Her enthusiasm for the sport turned into aspirations for Olympic gold and she competed at the Winter season Video games for Staff Japan in PyeongChang in 2018. She will after once more try for that aim with her teammates this month at the Beijing 2022 Wintertime Olympics.
Though working on her diploma in health and workout science at the David B. Falk College or university of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse College, Hosoyamada played defense for the Syracuse Orange and was team captain her redshirt senior 12 months. Immediately after graduating, she did not have the probability to enjoy for the Canadian group and virtually gave up the activity, but her close friends, family members and Syracuse Orange coaches urged her to proceed. So, she sought out alternatives in her parents’ native Japan the place she could sign up for a competitive team—a selection she claims was the suitable one simply because it served her get back again to her roots. She hopes her team’s participation in the Video games will assist to advertise women’s ice hockey in Japan, wherever it is not a significant activity.
Actively playing at the maximum collegiate level of hockey at Syracuse College has molded and organized me to engage in internationally. Syracuse permitted me to be a lot more impartial and showed me I can get over any adversity. I also established lifelong friendships!
—Akane Hosoyamada ’15
Hosoyamada and Group Japan engage in their to start with activity against Sweden on Thursday, February 3 at 3:30 a.m. EST.
We a short while ago experienced the possibility to chat with Hosoyamada and inquire about her achievements on the ice and her working experience at Syracuse College.
When did you start off to be interested in hockey?
I started off to enjoy hockey when I was 5 many years old. I am Canadian, so everybody all-around me played hockey, which include my brother.
How has Syracuse shaped your hockey career?
Actively playing at the greatest collegiate level of hockey at Syracuse University has molded and well prepared me to play internationally. Syracuse allowed me to be much more impartial and confirmed me I can triumph over any adversity. I also developed lifelong friendships!
What are you most fired up for at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics?
It is various from my expertise at the past Olympics due to the fact of COVID. I’m energized about everything—the overall expertise, the ambiance, the competition, the village.
Hosoyamada performed defense for the Syracuse Orange and was staff captain her redshirt senior calendar year. She attained a bachelor of science diploma in wellbeing and workout science. Photograph courtesy of the Japan Ice Hockey Federation.
What was your favored component about your expertise at Syracuse University?
Undoubtedly the campus. I knew I wanted to show up at Syracuse College when I observed the campus on my first check out. But other than that, I beloved how various the Syracuse local community was. I loved all the persons I have met. I have not been equipped to catch up with them recently, but I hope they’re executing properly.
I loved how various the Syracuse community was. I liked all the individuals I’ve fulfilled.
—Akane Hosoyamada ’15
Did you at any time see yourself competing in the Olympics?
It was definitely a dream, but it seemed genuinely much off at the start out. I tried using to keep positive, but by no means definitely got a shot at taking part in for Canada. I was about to give up. But an prospect came to engage in for Japan, so I went for it. I packed up everything and moved to Japan.
What is following for you soon after hockey and the Olympics?
I would appreciate to give again to hockey and remain connected to it. The sport has shaped me into the human being I am now. I hope that I can aid the upcoming era to encounter the identical awesome encounters that I’ve had.
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