‘Generational talent’ Sarah Fillier exceeding lofty pre-Games expectations in Beijing

BEIJING, CHINA – Those who know Sarah Fillier expected her to turn some heads at the Olympics. But as the women’s hockey tournament progresses, the 21-year-old is finding ways to surprise even them.

Before the competition began, Princeton head coach Cara Morey had warned analysts that Fillier’s contributions may not be obvious from the stats sheet.

“If you’re expecting her to score a ton of goals, you might be disappointed because she’s more of a playmaker,” Morey recalls saying. “But if you watch what she does with the puck and away from the puck, you’re going to realize she’s one of the greatest players that we’ve seen.