Local 17 Family Member Helps Team USA to Gold
SMART Local 17 is proud to celebrate a special connection to an incredible international achievement.
Melissa Piacentini, daughter of retired 43-year Local 17 member Anthony “Tony” Piacentini of Weymouth, Massachusetts, served on the coaching staff for the USA Women’s Hockey Team, which captured the gold medal at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Team USA secured the victory in a thrilling overtime win over rival Canada on Thursday, February 19, with a final score of 2-1.
Melissa’s dedication and commitment to excellence helped Team USA to the top of the podium. Her accomplishment reflects the same hard work, discipline, and pride that Local 17 members bring to the job every day.
Tony’s decades of service to the union, along with Melissa’s success on the world stage, are a powerful reminder that the values of hard work and teamwork extend beyond the trade and into our families and communities.
The team’s success also carried strong local connections. Several New England athletes played key roles in the gold medal run, including Massachusetts native Alex Carpenter, along with Boston Fleet standouts Aerin Frankel, Haley Winn, and Megan Keller, who delivered the game-winning overtime goal in the gold medal match. Their performances gave the region even more reason to celebrate Team USA’s historic win.
Congratulations to Melissa and the entire Piacentini family—and to all the New England athletes—on this incredible achievement. Local 17 is proud to celebrate this moment with you.
