Cayla Barnes strives for a place in the USA women’s Olympic hockey team

Later on in the year (in October) she was to receive a telephone call that would bring total delight.

She had just watched the sad spectacle of the US women's national hockey team losing 5-1 to Canada when she discovered that she would be leaving the Bleachers to sit on the bench as a reserve for the US women's National team. This was something that would give her the opportunity to earn a permanent spot in the team being assembled for the 2018 Winter Olympics. The 19-year-old became the national team's youngest player, something that she thought she would have to wait another four years for.

Barnes revealed that when she had been dropped by the national team, she was told that she should keep training hard, so she had secretly hoped that she might be recalled at one stage. However, when the call actually came through to reinstate her in the side, it came entirely out of the blue. Playing any sport for a top team is a dream in itself, but representing your country is the absolute pinnacle.

Barnes, who weighs in at 145 pounds and stands just a little over 5 feet tall, immediately notified her parent and the Boston College coaches that she was leaving college for Florida to be able to join in with the national teams training program.

The young female hockey player expressed how supportive her coaches had been and confirmed how excited she was to rejoin the national side. She recounted how frenzied the past few weeks had been and that it was like a dream to the returning to the women's national squad.

Barnes was instrumental in assisting the under-18 women's national team in winning their last three championship games. Not only that but she would also figure in the team due to play two games against the Canadians this December.

In her debut game at the Four Nations Cup, Cayla netted a power-play goal during the first period of the game against Finland; a game which the US won 8-2. Team coach Robb Stauber was quick to point out that Barnes' patience had been rewarded by the recall.

The next night young Barnes scored her second goal in two games in yet another powerplay in the first period of the game against Canada; a game that the US won 4-2. Not only that, but she also chalked-up assist when the US national team beat Sweden 5-0.

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