Representing her country: Greene lives out her dream
by Matthew Ondesko, Managing Editor
It’s every hockey players dream. A dream to one day put on their nations colors and represent them on the biggest stage.
Allie Greene is one of the chosen few to represent her country on the biggest stage. Putting on the Red, White and Blue was a sense of pride. Greene had that opportunity, recently, when she was part of the hockey team that took part in the World University Games in Italy.
It just wasn’t some game in your hometown with friends. It just wasn’t about some random game on the weekend. It was about playing for your country and proving that you belong with the best athletes in the world.
“It was nothing short of incredible. It honestly still feels so surreal. It’s something every hockey player dreams of and for me, I could never be more grateful to have had the chance to make that dream a reality. The first time I put on the red, white, and blue, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride. From the moment I put that USA jersey on it was so much more than just a game of hockey,” explained Greene. “It was about showing the world what it means to be an American athlete and representing our country with determination, resilience, and excellence. My mind raced with excitement about the opportunity but at the same time, the weight of responsibility didn’t go unnoticed. It was no longer about playing for yourself and your teammates in your hometown, it was about playing for your country and proving to the world who you really are. It was surreal, but more than anything, I felt motivated to make the most of this incredible opportunity and give everything I had to represent the team and the country.”
It was an experience that Greene has a hard time to put into words at times. Her country chose her as one of the best players in the world. As they were getting ready for a pre-camp before flying to Italy, Greene didn’t know many of the girls on the roster.
The ones that she did know where from playing against them throughout her college season. It was a little intimidating at first because Greene was flying solo. Unlike some of the other girls on the team who were playing along side some of their teammates, Greene was the only one from Indiana Tech.
But, the girls made her feel at home as soon as she got on the ice.
“It was incredible to be able to meet and play with so many amazing athletes who share the same passion and goals as I do. I didn’t personally know anyone on the team. I only recognized a handful of names on the roster from playing against them and seeing their last names on their jersey. To be honest it was a little intimidating at first because some girls were coming from the same universities or had played with each other prior to university. However, being the only one from Indiana Tech I was flying solo to start. Right from the beginning, the team welcomed me in and we all instantly bonded,” stated Greene. “It wasn’t hard to bond being that we were all there with the same purpose, goals, and love for hockey. Before the games even started, I was already loving every minute of being able to get to know each of the girls and the real fun was yet to begin. It was so fun to experience going from opponents to teammates. I never thought I would ever become friends with players from my school’s biggest rival, but it just felt different. Everything that happened before with rival teams became nonexistent because we were teammates and that was all that mattered. I will cherish building these friendships forever.”
If Greene thought she might be able to ease her way into the tournament she was wrong. She was a key player on the team, as a starting center and playing on the power play and penalty kill. That proved more than anything that she belonged. It was showed the type of confidence the coaches had in her as the tournament wore on.
Greene didn’t disappoint, either. She was third on the team in points with six (two goals, four assist, and proved that she belonged with the best of the best.
“The speed and physicality were phenomenal. I was honestly surprised with how much the refs let us get away with but there was no question that the speed of play was faster than what I was used to. I knew going into it that every battle would be hard fought, and nothing was going to be easy. It was fun to embrace this challenge and raise our level of play. Each game had so much at stake and every shift was a hard-fought battle, which is what the game of hockey is all about,” stated Greene. “The environment was easily the best environment I have ever played in. It was truly special to look around the stands and see all the fans including my family within the sea of USA jerseys. There was even a whole group of Italian kids that came from school. They all had USA flags and signs. I remember when I was once in their shoes as that little girl sitting in the stands of a USA game and now the roles were reversed. It really put into perspective the amplitude of this opportunity to inspire young kids around the world and to represent the country we call home.”
Home is where is the heart is, and the first time Greene stepped on the ice - and heard the national anthem, it was overwhelming. That day was a culmination of all the hard work she has put in over the years to get where she is now.
It was also a reminder that this was still an important game. The expectations of putting on the jersey and having the USA across the chest could weight many people down. Greene, however, tried to simplify the game as much as she could in that moment. It was still a game, the same game she was playing since the age of 4 years old.
“Stepping onto the ice for my first game with ‘USA’ across my chest was honestly an overwhelming moment. There was a mix of excitement, pride, and nerves. It was emotional to realize this was the very moment I had been dreaming of since I was a little girl. It was also overwhelming to think about the expectations, everyone watching, and the importance of the game,” stated Greene. “It was hard simplifying the moment to just another hockey game, where all I had to do was play the game I had been playing since I was 4. When in reality, it was the most meaningful, important game, on the biggest stage I had ever played on in my hockey career.”
When team USA didn’t have a game, the players were able to explore everything Italy had to offer. For many it was the first time they were in Europe, let alone in Italy. Greene was able to take in the culture and the history.
It was a once and a lifetime experience, and one she won’t soon forget.
“It was really amazing. I had always wanted to be able to travel to Italy although I had never imagined it would be for a hockey tournament let alone the World University Games. Not only did I get to compete alongside some of the best athletes in the world, but I also had the chance to take in the culture, the landscape, and the history. All athletes stayed in an athlete village that was used for the Olympics that were held there. It was very special to live in the footsteps of the great athletes who came before us. It was amazing to be able to talk to and become friends with athletes from all over the world. Italy has such a rich tradition, and being there, immersed in all of it, was surreal,” stated Greene. “All the Italians that we came in contact with were extremely welcoming if we needed help translating or finding directions. We were able to explore the city of Turin, watch other sporting events, we had a day trip to Milan, we went to the foot of the Italian Alps, we explored little cafes, and made sure to eat lots of pasta, espresso, and chocolate.”
While the tournament didn't go according to plan, it was still a great experience for Greene, and her team USA teammates. It was an experience that all of them will never forget. For Greene the tournament gave her a new found confidence.
It shows that hard work truly pays off, and dreams really do come true.
“The World University games were something I had never experienced before. The level of competition and the pressure to perform was higher than I had ever experienced. I walk away from the tournament with newfound confidence in myself. This experience truly solidified the belief that with hard work and dedication, no goal is ever out of reach,” stated Greene. “It was a reminder that dreams really do come true when you stay committed to your goals. I also learned the power of resilience, realizing that challenges and setbacks are just parts of the journey, not dead ends. These roadblocks are learning opportunities and can be overcome with perseverance. Lastly, this experience emphasized the importance of teamwork – how working together and supporting one another can elevate everyone to achieve something bigger than themselves.”
