Abby Roque Becomes First Indigenous Woman to Play for Team USA at Olympics

Abby Roque became the first indigenous woman to ever play for Team USA's hockey team at the Winter Olympics.

The Olympics have only just begun and Abby Roque is already making history. 

By participating in Team USA's preliminary round matchup versus Finland on Thursday, Roque became the first indigenous woman to ever play for the United States' hockey team at the Winter Olympics. 

Roque is a member of the Wahnapitae First Nation, a tribe that features a population of less than 600, and is primarily based in Capreol, Ontario, with members spread as far as northern Michigan, as well. 

Roque's uncle, in fact, was recently elected Chief, serving the esteemed position for the second consecutive term. Her father, Jim Roque, currently works for the Toronto Maple Leafs as a scout. 

Prior to her historic Olympic selection this year, Roque put together an incredibly successful collegiate career in the NCAA, playing for the University of Wisconsin and racking up an astounding 170 points in 155 games while being named WCHA Offensive Player of the Year in two of her four years in the program. 

After graduating in the spring of 2020, Roque joined the Minnesota section of the PWHPA for the 2020-21 season and proceeded to participate in the Dream Gap Tour. 

With a list of accomplishments already growing wildly at this point in her young career, Roque can now add Olympian to her resume.