A New Hampshire hockey legend is getting national recognition for her career.Tara Mounsey has a stunning list of accolades, including gold and silver Olympic medals and being named a collegiate all-American in ice and field hockey.On Feb. 17, 1998, Mounsey laced up for the first ever Olympic women’s hockey gold medal game in Nagano, Japan. Three New Hampshire natives were playing for the United States as the team faced Canada.On defense was No. 2, Concord’s Tara Mounsey. When the final buzzer sounded, Team USA beat Canada, 3-1, for the gold medal. “You’re just looking for anyone, whoever’s near you, to celebrate and to hug and to really just stay in that moment,” Mounsey said. “I wish I could go back to that moment.”Being the first was nothing new for Mounsey. Her legend began not in Japan, but at White Park in Concord.During her high school days, girls hockey was not a sanctioned sport. Mounsey played on the boys team, winning a state title and being named player of the year. “Playing with the guys, she had that intensity and grit that she brought with her every day,” said Steve Largy, Concord High School athletic director. “She was almost like a mythical person at Concord.”>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <> Subscribe to WMUR’s YouTube channel <<

CONCORD, N.H. —

A New Hampshire hockey legend is getting national recognition for her career.

Tara Mounsey has a stunning list of accolades, including gold and silver Olympic medals and being named a collegiate all-American in ice and field hockey.

On Feb. 17, 1998, Mounsey laced up for the first ever Olympic women’s hockey gold medal game in Nagano, Japan. Three New Hampshire natives were playing for the United States as the team faced Canada.

On defense was No. 2, Concord’s Tara Mounsey. When the final buzzer sounded, Team USA beat Canada, 3-1, for the gold medal.

“You’re just looking for anyone, whoever’s near you, to celebrate and to hug and to really just stay in that moment,” Mounsey said. “I wish I could go back to that moment.”

Being the first was nothing new for Mounsey. Her legend began not in Japan, but at White Park in Concord.

During her high school days, girls hockey was not a sanctioned sport. Mounsey played on the boys team, winning a state title and being named player of the year.

“Playing with the guys, she had that intensity and grit that she brought with her every day,” said Steve Largy, Concord High School athletic director. “She was almost like a mythical person at Concord.”

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Mounsey said she heard some comments about how she shouldn’t be playing on the boys team.

“I don’t think I heard that as much as maybe my parents heard it. There’s always some knucklehead that wanted to take a run at me,” she said. “I could take a hit and I could give a hit. I wasn’t afraid.”

Mounsey is now the medical coordinator for the Boston Celtics, working as a nurse practitioner at New England Baptist. When the Celtics won the championship last year, she got a ring.

“It’s at home with the medals,” she said.

“I was in the parade,” Mounsey went on. “The experience and the power and energy of the people at that parade was incredible.”

Mounsey said being on that duck boat was no comparison to what she felt winning the gold. Her 1998 Olympic team was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.

This September, Mounsey’s phone rang again with another call from the Hockey Hall of Fame.

“I kept driving, but I felt like I needed to stop the car, I was so caught off guard,” she said. “I really had to sit with it and realize it was real and how big of an honor it is.”

When Mounsey’s name comes up, the words “trailblazer” or “pioneer” often follow. It’s something she’s comfortable with.

‘Absolutely,” she said. “I’ve kind of turned that corner into empowering other athletes, even adult athletes. I’m hoping that people will choose to rely on me if they need something, listen to my messaging if I am speaking, but that’s on me to be impactful.”

She said she has never forgotten where she comes from.

“I am forever, forever indebted to the community of Concord, New Hampshire, and the state,” Mounsey said. “I’m the athlete and the person that I am because of the support that I received from the people in Concord and New Hampshire.”

The cheers for Mounsey will continue well through her induction ceremony on Dec. 10 in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

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