Josephine Pucci

Josephine Pucci had her first experience skating on an ice rink at fi ve years old! As a hockey fan, Ms. Pucci’s father wanted his children to enjoy the excitement an ice rink can bring. Little did he know, this experience would lead his oldest daughter to an Olympic Medal with the United States Women’s Hockey Team.

Ms. Pucci, born December 27, 1990, was raised in Pearl River, New York. Along with her two younger sisters, she was fi rst interested in fi gure skating. However, a family Christmas present of a hockey stick and helmet ignited her interest. The transition to hockey from fi gure skating for Ms. Pucci was unique, as there were no girls youth hockey leagues for someone her age. This lack of opportunity did not stop her from exploring this interest in competitive hockey, and she registered for a boys
house league. From house leagues to travel teams, up until high school, Ms. Pucci competed within boys leagues, getting hit harder each year as the boys grew in size.

At age 14 she entered Choate Rosemary Hall, a prep school in Wallingford, Connecticut. As a freshman, Ms. Pucci lived away from her family for the fi rst time and felt as though she was “thrown right into the deep end.” However, this did not last long; she quickly found comfort in the school and the girls’ hockey team.

In 2009, Ms. Pucci took her talents to the ice rink of Harvard University and further established her strength at the position of defense. After various awards and success at Harvard, in 2011, Ms. Pucci competed and was named to the roster of the United States of America Women’s Hockey Team. Although injured with a concussion in 2012, Ms. Pucci diligently took her time to properly recover and in June 2013 was invited to the Olympic tryouts. She was one of 25 females named to the roster of USA Women’s Hockey Team and represented the United States at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. After a wholehearted battle, Ms. Pucci and the USA Women’s Hockey team made her country proud by capturing the Silver Medal.

In the fall of 2014, Ms. Pucci will enter her senior year at Harvard University with a major in Psychology and as captain of the hockey team. She plans to pursue study in neuroscience and, given her personal experience, looks to advocate for the proper and diligent treatment of head injuries.