Puck used for historic Korean goal heading to Hockey Hall of Fame

One of the most prized hockey souvenirs at PyeongChang 2018 is headed to Canada.

The puck that Randi Heesoo Griffin forced into the back of Japan's net Wednesday to score the first Olympic goal in the history of the combined Korean women's hockey team will be enshrined in the sport's most revered museum, the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Getting hold of the puck, however, proved to be a tricky assignment for Martin Hyun, deputy sport manager for hockey at PyeongChang 2018, after he noticed referee Drahomira Fialova was on the verge of re-using the priceless piece of memorabilia.

"If the puck was still in play and gone, the historic puck would be gone forever," Hyun told Yoo Jee-ho of the Yonhap News Agency. "I ran and made my voice heard that the puck has to come and stay."

The joint Korean team was formed last month after North and South Korea agreed to combine players from each nation.

Despite finishing last in Group A, Korea, who lost 4-1 against Japan in the final game of the preliminary round, will play at least once more before PyeongChang 2018 concludes, when the battle to place fifth overall in the women's tournament kicks off Saturday.

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