While not everyone in Canada probably sees it this way, congratulations are in order for Syracuse University women's hockey coach Britni Smith, who is returning back to Syracuse with a silver medal from the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy.

Smith, the head coach of the women's hockey team, was on the bench for Team Canada, serving as an assistant coach for the group that lost 2-1 against the United States in Thursday's gold medal contest.

The Americans won in overtime to capture their second gold medal in the last three Olympics (2018). Canada held a 1-0 lead deep into the third period when the US group tied the game, and then they won it just minutes into the extra period.

Canada went 5-2 in the tournament. They were 3-1 in the preliminary round and then beat Germany in the quarterfinals and Switzerland in the semifinals. The only two losses they sustained were to the United States. Canada now has five gold medals and three silvers since women's hockey was put in the Olympic program in 1998.

Smith played her collegiate hockey at St. Lawrence University, graduating in 2010. She's been the SU head coach since May of 2022 after serving at Clarkson for eight years. There, she helped the Golden Knights win back-to-back national championships and appear in four consecutive Frozen Fours. She has coached with Team Canada on multiple occasions as well.

She said this before the Olympics began:

I've been fortunate enough to work two U-18 World Championships and then one Senior World Championship and two Rivalry Series, so games just versus the U.S. and anytime you can wear the Leaf on your chest, but represent your country, is such an honor. To be able to work alongside the best staff and some of the best players in the world is just so exciting every single time. You're all like-minded individuals who are there for one goal, which is to compete for a gold medal.

And it's just a great opportunity to continue to give back to the game, but also to build myself and my knowledge and my ability to continue to step into different  opportunities that arise. And like I said, it's always an honor, alway an opportunity for growth as well."

The Syracuse women are 14-16-4 on the season and 10-11-3 in AHA conference play. They play a playoff game Saturday at 3 p.m. ET at RIT. It's unclear if Smith will be back in time to coach that game.

While it's certainly jarring to have your coach leave at the tail end of a season, Smith's inclusion in the Olympics is ultimately good for the exposure and growth of the program. Hopefully her coaching experience on the highest stage will help attract some top recruits to Central New York in the future.

--Former Syracuse football offensive lineman Justin Outten has received a promotion from the World Champion Seattle Seahawks. After serving as a run-game specialist and assistant offensive line coach in 2025, Outten is the new run game coordinator for head coach Mike Macdonald. He interviewed for the offensive coordinator job, but did not get it. Seattle clearly values him though.

He spent four years on the SU offensive line (2003-2006), helping Syracuse achieve two six-win seasons. He also coached at Syracuse in 2007.

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