2010 Winter Olympics: U.S. men's hockey team bringing soldiers' mementos along for Olympic ride

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The American men's hockey team has a little extra incentive during the games. Each player is carrying a memento from a wounded U.S. soldier.

"The whole team did it for Operation Homefront, which is about wounded soldiers," Chicago Blackhawks' wing and Olympic rookie Patrick Kane said. "They gave us a certain adopted wounded soldier and we carry around something they wanted to give us for the games.

"On our charter flight (Sunday), a guy who works in the helicopter military gave me a coin, too, of the (squad) he's in. I'm carrying some good things from some soldiers that help out out country and make it what it is today. Hopefully that brings me good luck."

Getting the points: After scoring three points with a goal and two assists in the U.S. women's 6-0 victory over Finland on Thursday, Natalie Darwitz now holds the American record for most points scored in an Olympic tournament.

The Eagan, Minn., native has 11 points in the U.S.'s three games, passing Cammi Granato, who had 10 points at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

"It's obviously an honor if you break records but there's one thing I want around my neck — that would break any record for me," said Darwitz, who has four goals and seven assists to help lead the U.S. to the semifinals. "Cammi Granato was a tremendous player and to follow in her footsteps as a captain and now surpass her in a points situation is obviously a huge honor. Hopefully we're not done getting points and hopefully our team can score a lot more goals in the future."

One-timer: European players are supposed to dislike playing on NHL-size ice, which is 15 feet narrower than international rinks. But defenseman Niklas Kronwall of Sweden and the Red Wings said he likes playing this tournament on the smaller rink because it promotes a more physical game.

"It feels good. I think this is the game should be played in all the leagues in the world, to be honest with you," he said. "It gives the game a little bit better pace I think."