Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - For many hockey players growing up around the world, one of the ultimate dreams is to one day represent their home country in the Winter Olympics, with the hopes of winning a gold medal on the world's biggest stage.
That dream was no different for Getzville native Hayley Scamurra.
For the second time in her professional career, the Western New York native is representing the United States in women's ice hockey at the Winter Olympic Games. After winning a silver medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Scamurra is going for gold this time around at the 2026 Games in Milan, Italy.
Despite this being her second go-around at the Olympics, Scamurra is humbled and honored to represent not only her country, but also Western New York.
"It's not something I ever thought was possible for me, honestly. My dream was to be an Olympian, and so when I had that honor the last time around, it was amazing and grateful," said Scamurra in an interview with WBEN. "And you never know if you're going to have another opportunity to do it again. So to be able to say I'm a two-time Olympian, it's so surreal and I'm so honored. And it's not something I take for granted, for sure. I'm very grateful for what it took to get to this point. It's because of the way I grew up in Western New York, for sure."
This will be the eighth time overall that Scamurra will represent the United States in international competition, where she has an Olympic silver medal, three IIHF Women's World Championship silver medals and three World Championship gold medals under her belt.
While the chance to don the red, white and blue at the international level is always a dream come true, Scamurra knows the Olympics has always been the ultimate dream.
"I think the world aspect of it really sinks in," Scamurra said. "I think also the ability to share it with other Team USA athletes, who are doing different sports, you kind of compare and contrast, you share in your experiences. It's something you all get to share together, and we all get to represent our country on a world stage, where everyone's eyes are on it. It's so much more visible, so much more marketing. The stage itself just feels so much bigger."
One of the biggest takeaways from Scamurra's first Olympic experience that she's hoping will help her this time around is knowing how big the moments feel.
"The whole time I was there, that first time, I was proud of myself that I just appreciated every moment, and really just soaked it all in. You realize how special it is and how unique your experience is to just be able to represent Team USA," Scamurra said. "Walking in with opening ceremonies, there was 200 U.S. athletes. That's it. The whole country, 200 get the honor to represent the U.S. at the Winter Olympics. I think it really helped cement how special it is to make it. So this time around, it's just kind of remembering that and not letting the moment overtake it. But just to be grateful for it and then just keep moving forward, and remember to just play your game and have fun. But to just remember how cool and unique it is."
One of the more exciting aspects of this Olympic experience for Scamurra will be the opportunity to share the moment in Italy with family and friends.
"Last Olympics, we were kind of isolated, which in a sense, you got to bond with teammates, it was only us over there. There was something special with that, but to be honest, I really wanted to share this with my family," she noted. "To be able to show them the Olympic Village and have that Olympic experience, they're the ones who helped me get to this point. So for me, that's one of my bigger motivators, for sure. And obviously to represent the country and go over and try to win gold."
The 31-year-old has now played parts of nine seasons of professional hockey, and is currently playing in the Professional Women's Hockey League with the Montreal Victoire. However, it was in Buffalo where her professional career took off, playing for the Beauts of the former National Women's Hockey League.
"I'm so grateful I did get to play for my hometown team, for Buffalo, with the NWHL. That was such a special time of my life, and it was the reason I made the U.S. team," Scamurra said. "That's usually a unique journey, in the sense that typically, when you're on the U.S. team, you make it from the time you're 18 and you stay on the team. But for me, it was a later journey for myself, and I think it was meant to be that way for me. By the time I made it, I was maybe 24, and I think I matured a lot in my mental game and in my physical game, where I was ready for the opportunity when it came. It was something I wasn't expecting, but when it did come, I was ready and I had nothing to lose, honestly. And I've made the team ever since."
Scamurra says it has been great to see the growth of women's hockey since making her debut with the Beauts.
"It's been immense. It grows year-after-year," she said. "We're selling out NHL arenas everywhere we go. Even where there's not a team represented there, we're still selling out. I think that's just such a testament to the growth of women's sports, in general, and women's hockey."
When the PWHL got started in 2023, Scamurra ended up being a fifth-round pick (29th overall) of Ottawa in the players draft. Right off the bat, she says it was an eye-opening experience.
"I will never forget our home opener. It was a sold out game, but they all showed up for on-ice warm ups. It was a packed arena for on-ice warm ups," Scamurra recalled. "We get on the ice and they're all cheering, so excited. I was literally nervous for on-ice warm ups, because I was like, 'There's so many people watching. When did this happen? What is going on?' And I think that was the big 'Aha' moment, where it's like, 'This is real. We're in a true professional league, and it's happening for us.'"
Then last season, Scamurra got to experience her first trade, being sent to the Toronto Sceptres, where she enjoyed being a bit closer to home.
"My dad came to the game right after I got traded, luckily, he was able to just drive up because I was like, 'I need the support.' This was such a whirlwind, and it was so nice to have a familiar face that game, because I had to play my former team the next day," Scamurra said. "And then I was in free agency this summer, and I decided to switch it up and go to Montreal, which has been definitely a little bit of a culture shock at times, but it's been worth it, for sure. They're super passionate there, it's been so much fun so far, and I can't wait to continue with them this season."
Does she believe that professional women's hockey can make a return to Western New York and succeed? Scamurra is certainly hopeful.
"I would absolutely love it. I think they're a great market, they love their hockey, they love their women's hockey. I think it would do really well," she said. "Whenever that does come, hopefully I'm still in the league. But if not, I think they will eventually get one, for sure."
Team USA's run at an Olympic gold medal officially begins Thursday, when the U.S. takes on Czechia for a 10:40 a.m. EST faceoff in Milan.
Ahead of her latest go for Olympic gold, Scamurra admits she gets emotional just thinking about what it would mean.
"That was one of the heartbreakers, for sure, in the last Olympics, coming home with silver. I mean, I'm still very proud of my silver medal and coming back with something, but I think gold is what we're after," she said. "And to be able to come back and share that with the country as a whole, with Western New York, it would just be an absolute dream come true, and something that I think motivates all of us. It's really at the core of why we're going over there and what we want."