From blue to red and white; VPD officer straps on skates for fourth Olympic Games

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – She’s usually defending people on Vancouver’s streets, but beginning this week, Meghan Agosta will be on the offensive when she hits the ice to represent Canada at the Winter Games in South Korea.

The 30-year-old forward hopes to lock up her fourth gold medal in Pyeongchang.

“For me going into my fourth Olympics is pretty surreal to be honest. It’s such an honour every single time and I don’t take any opportunities for granted,” she said.

Agosta’s Olympic career began in 2005 when, as one of the youngest players, she was picked by Hockey Canada to represent the nation.

Following the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia, Agosta’s tour brought her to Vancouver where she says the stars aligned and she met with members of the Vancouver Police Department. Having graduated with a degree in criminal justice with a minor in criminal psychology from Mercer University in Pennsylvania, she had long thought about becoming a police officer.

Within three months she was hired by the force and had to take a year off from Olympic hockey practice, but her days on the ice were far from over.

Despite having no local women’s team to play with, Agosta trained with the Valley West Hawks, the major midget league boys team in Langley, the VPD hockey team and a UBC skills coach.

“All my annual leave has gone towards hockey. I haven’t really gone on a vacation,” she said.

Agosta and her 22 teammates have been practicing full time and living in Calgary since August. With the loss of several veteran players, including the 2017 retirement of Captain Hayley Wickenheiser, Agosta says not it’s her turn to take on a leadership role.

“Somebody like myself, it being my fourth for me bringing more of a leadership role, taking the younger ones under my wing and making sure they’re playing comfortable and confident is something I focused on.”

The team arrived in South Korea well ahead of the games to adjust to the 17-hour time zone change and the rink they will call home for the next month. Agosta says they’re planning a team outing to Seoul and some members want to visit the demilitarized zone at the border with North Korea.

Their first game is Feb. 13, the day after Agosta’s birthday, against the Olympic Athletes from Russia. Vancouver fans will need to wake up extra early for the 4 a.m. face-off.

There may not be much love on Valentine’s Day when they take on fierce rivals, Team USA. “We’re ready and we’re on this mission,” she said. “We’re willing to do whatever it takes to come out on top again.”

The Games get underway on February 9th.

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