One of the things standing out about the U.S. women’s ice hockey team is how much fun they have together.
Turns out their team chemistry turning point may have been during a trip to San Diego.
They're America's women of the ice, teammates and friends focused on bringing home the gold.
Team USA will face Canada Thursday night for the fourth time in five Winter Games.
"We’ve done a lot of work of just enjoying one another’s company,” said Hilary Knight.
“I think that's the best part throughout this journey it can be as hard as you want it to be or it can be as easy as you want it to be."
A journey that will culminate with just a few final games in Sochi.
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Where did all this team chemistry so apparent even during practice come from?
An unlikely place that's where - on the sandy beach of Coronado.
"Yeah we did a lot of team bonding things when we made a trip out to Chula Vista,” said goalie Jessie Vetter. “It was just a good way to goof around with each other and act silly together and it brought us closer"
From relay races to mental toughness - it was clear they did not lack competitive drive.
NBC 7 was the only TV station in the world there to witness what many teammates now here in Sochi would say was their defining team bonding moment.
"When you're a little embarrassed around each other I think it makes you closer and you're able to laugh it off and continue on,” said Vetter.
"This is a fun group of girls, we're young, we're fast as you said,” Knight said. “We've done a great job off the ice and its translating extremely well on the ice for us."
Vetter said the teammates definitely tease other quite a bit.
“We're just a big group of sisters that get along really well and it’s really fun to be a part of," she said.
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