A.J. Mleczko made history at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan by helping the U.S. Women's ice hockey team to an historic, first-ever Olympic Gold medal. A.J.'s scoring touch and dominating face-off ability were key elements in Team USA's undefeated run to Olympic Gold. One year later, A.J. made history again winning the Patty Kazmaier College Player of the Year Award and graduating cum laude from Harvard University.

At the age of six, intrigued by the hockey teams coached by her father, A.J. traded in her figure skates and dresses for hockey skates and hand-me-down equipment. She quickly excelled despite carrying the burden of often being the only girl on all-boys' teams. In 1993, A.J. joined her older sister, Wink, on the Harvard women's ice hockey team, where her career was nothing short of legendary. By her junior year, A.J. was Harvard's all-time leading goal scorer.

After her junior season, A.J. faced the most difficult decision of her young life. With one year remaining at Harvard, A.J. was also two years away from the debut of women's ice hockey in the Olympic Games. Despite being a collegiate star and a member of the National Team since 1995, A.J.'s place on the Olympic team was not guaranteed. National Team Coach Ben Smith challenged A.J. and other prospective Olympians who were still in college to devote themselves full time to hockey. For A.J., giving up her final year at Harvard, prolonging student loans, and putting her entire life on hold to chase a dream with no guarantee of even making the Olympic team was a daunting prospect.

After intense soul searching, A.J. decided that she had come too far in her hockey career, from the insults she endured as a young girl to the brink of the Olympics, to have any regrets about not giving everything she had to become one of the pioneering women to represent the United States. In the fall of 1996, A.J. deferred her senior year at Harvard to dedicate herself to making the Olympic team. After spending countless hours in the gym adding strength and on the ice improving her game, A.J. earned a spot on the Olympic team. Along with her teammates, A.J. won the first-ever Gold Medal and captured the hearts of the American public.

After winning Olympic Gold, A.J. captained the Harvard Crimson to the National Title and the E.C.A.C. Championship. A.J. set the NCAA single season scoring record and scored more points in a single season than any Harvard hockey player (male or female). A.J. won the Patty Kazmaier Award as the nation's best female hockey player and earned USA Hockey's Player of the Year Award. In addition to setting the hockey world on fire, A.J. completed her History degree, graduating cum laude.

Having matured into one of the best all-around players in the world, A.J. went on to qualify and compete in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah where she helped lead her team to an Olympic Silver Medal. To find out how to put A.J.'s charm, intelligence and motivation to work for you, please contact Chris Callanan or Kent Hughes.