PyeongChang2018 – Meet Sarah Murray, the woman heading the joint Korean Ice-Hockey Team

For the first time in Olympic history, North Korea and South Korea will be entering as one joint Korean Team.

There will be no bigger spotlight on this historic union than that of the Korean Women’s Ice-Hockey squad as they embark in their first competitive match on the first Saturday of the Games.  Should they claim the gold medal on February 22nd, they will have created the biggest ‘miracle on ice’ since 1980.

Sarah Murray, the Canadian-America coach has taken on the task of leading these women to victory.  Sarah, who has been the coach of the South Korean Team since 2014, has had a rollercoaster of preparation for the games as the team was united with North Korea only 16 days before the start of the Games.  Adding a huge language barrier to the equation, its fair to say its not been easy, but she is certainly proud to be a part of this incredible sporting event:

“We sat together at the next meal and the players were laughing. They are just girls … you know … they are just hockey players. They are all wearing the same jersey and we are on the same team now,” she said. “Hockey really does bring people together.”

Sarah followed her fathers footsteps, who was an NHL player before becoming a coach himself.  Now only 29, Sarah took the South Korean job aged only 25, having previously been Assistant Coach at Team Red’s coaching staff at the 2016 High Performance Camp, held in Vierumäki, Finland.  With a lifetime of hockey playing, knowledge and experience under her belt, Sarah looks forward to the challenge ahead.

“It’s insane. I’m so fortunate,” Murray says. “Sometimes when I get frustrated about work or the players aren’t responding, I have to be like ‘Look at what I’m doing, this is an amazing opportunity.”