ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� U.S. hockey Olympic gold medalist Hayley Scamurra grew up in Buffalo rooting for the Bills, never envisioning a time when anyone from the team 鈥� let alone 鈥� would one day seek out her attention.
And yet, there she was excitedly watching practice along the sideline on Tuesday, when Allen broke the final huddle and immediately headed toward Scamurra to say hello.
鈥淚t helps having this,鈥� she said, pointing to the shiny gold medal draped around her neck.
鈥淚t helped ground me a little bit to be like, `OK, I have something to share with you,鈥欌�� Scamurra added, in how she kept her nerves in check. 鈥淭o be able to share that with him was just really surreal and super cool.鈥�
The feeling was mutual for the quarterback in appreciating Scamurra鈥檚 achievement as a member of the U.S. women鈥檚 team that capped an undefeated run at the Milan Cortina Games with a championship-clinching in February.
鈥淭rying on a gold medal felt like stolen valor. But you can feel the weight of that, not just literally. There鈥檚 a figurative weight that goes long with that,鈥� Allen said of the 5-pound (2.27 kilogram) medal. 鈥淚鈥檝e got so much respect for her and what they did in representing our country.鈥�
Scamurra gets star treatment
Gold has it鈥檚 privileges. The 31-year-old Scamurra became the center of attention among Bills players and staff during a visit that included an exclusive tour of the team鈥檚 new stadium set to open this summer, and an exchange of jerseys with Allen.
The origin of the meeting was prompted in Milan. in an Olympic tournament-opening 5-1 win over Czechia, Scamurra shrieked in delight at the mere thought Allen might be watching.
Word got back to Allen and the Bills, who reached out with an invitation to attend one of their spring practices.
Coach Joe Brady leaped at the opportunity of meeting Scamurra by saying it鈥檚 not often he and his players get a chance to rub shoulders with a gold medalist.
鈥淚t was pretty bad-ass, I鈥檓 not going to lie,鈥� said Brady, who spent a five-minute portion of practice meeting with Scamurra.
鈥淪he clearly embodies Buffalo, right?鈥� he said of the forward who played a so-called 鈥淛ill-of-all-trades鈥� role as the U.S. team鈥檚 13th forward. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the work ethic, the approach, the hey, whatever I can do, that grit and that mindset. That鈥檚 probably why she has that gold medal. Not everybody鈥檚 built like that.鈥�
PWHL Walter Cup champion
The visit to the Bills continued what鈥檚 been a magnificent run for Scamurra, who grew up in Buffalo鈥檚 suburb of Getzville. Two weeks ago, she celebrated winning the PWHL Walter Cup championship following the over Ottawa.
Having already won three world championships, the two-time Olympian is now a member of hockey鈥檚 exclusive Triple-Gold club.
鈥淚 feel like it sinks in at different moments,鈥� said Scamurra, who also won silver at the 2022 Beijing Games.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like you almost forget about it a little bit. And then you come here and celebrate it again with everyone, and it kind of invigorates you,鈥� she added. 鈥淵ou get to re-experience the Olympics again, and winning gold.鈥�
Sharing the achievement with Allen and the Bills made it even more special.
鈥淣o, I never could have envisioned this,鈥� Scamurra said, recalling how she braved the wintry elements attending Bills games with her father and three brothers. 鈥淎nd now, here we are on a warm sunny day in Buffalo, and I get to experience this firsthand.鈥�
___
AP women鈥檚 hockey:
___
AP NFL:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
