Lamoureux twins retire after 14 years with USA Hockey

USA Hockey’s twin-sister Lamoureux tandem is retiring after 14 years of international competition.

Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando made the announcement in an article titled “More than Medals” that was published Tuesday on The Players’ Tribune website. In it, the 31-year-olds reflected on their hockey journeys, which began when they were growing up in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and were punctuated with them helping the United States win gold at the Pyeongchang Olympics in 2018.

The two — who each played for the University of Minnesota for one season — played key roles in a 3-2 shootout victory over Canada in the championship game. Lamoureux-Morando scored the tying goal with less than seven minutes remaining, and Lamoureux-Davidson scored the decisive shootout goal to lead the U.S. to its second Olympic title and first since the 1998 Nagano Games.

“Our dream since as long as we could remember was to wear the red, white and blue and become Olympic champions together,” the sisters said in a statement released by USA Hockey. “As twins, our hockey career and lives will forever be intertwined, so it is only fitting that we are retiring together as well.”

Together, the Lamoureuxs were members of U.S. teams that won six world championships and Olympic silver at the 2010 Vancouver and ’14 Sochi Games.

They most recently represented the U.S. by competing in a three-game rivalry series against Canada last year, and afterward both took time off to give birth to sons. Their decision to retire comes about a year before the 2022 Beijing Games are scheduled to open.

“When we both started to think about retirement, I’d think about all the goals we had set out to accomplish throughout our careers. We have crossed off most of those. And the ones we came up short on? We learned from those experiences and did our best along the way,” Lamoureux-Davidson wrote in The Players’ Tribune article.

“I can look at myself in the mirror and be proud. Proud of myself, my sister, and the teams I was a part of,” she added. “Even though our playing days have come to a close, I know our roles as leaders in the game of hockey aren’t coming to an end any time soon.”

Lamoureux-Morando noted that the challenges of balancing a career and family played a factor in their decision, while hinting that “there are more babies on the way.”

Their career numbers with USA Hockey were nearly identical.

Lamoureux-Morando finished with 62 goals and 81 assists for 143 points in 135 games. Lamoureux-Davidson had 63 goals and 75 assists for 138 points in 137 games.

“Monique and Jocelyne were fierce competitors, and their desire to win was evident every time they wore the USA jersey,” USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher said. “They have been a big part of the success of our program for many years. We thank them for their passion and dedication, and wish them nothing but the very best in the future.”