Julie 'The Cat' Gaffney's Legacy Lives On in U.S. Women's Hockey

Thirty-three years after starring in The Mighty Ducks, the fictional goalie's impact is still felt by real-life female hockey players.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Colombe Jacobsen, the actress who played Julie 'The Cat' Gaffney in The Mighty Ducks movies, reflects on how her character's story of perseverance and success has resonated with generations of women in sports. Despite the U.S. women's national ice hockey team consistently outperforming their male counterparts, they still face a lack of respect and recognition. Jacobsen argues that celebrating the achievements of women in sports is crucial to inspiring the next generation of female athletes.

Why it matters

The Mighty Ducks franchise, and Jacobsen's role as Julie 'The Cat', helped inspire countless young women to play hockey. However, the real-life U.S. women's national ice hockey team still struggles to receive the same level of acknowledgment and celebration as the men's team, despite their superior performance. This story highlights the ongoing fight for respect and equality in women's sports.

The details

Jacobsen describes how the iconic final scene in The Mighty Ducks 2, where her character makes the game-winning save, was shot after production had wrapped due to the producers' desire to create a more dramatic and empowering moment for the female lead. She draws parallels between Julie 'The Cat's' struggle for playing time and the real-life challenges faced by the U.S. women's national ice hockey team, who have consistently outperformed the men's team but still face a lack of respect and recognition.

  • In 1994, Jacobsen played the role of Julie 'The Cat' Gaffney in The Mighty Ducks 2.
  • More than 30 years later, the U.S. women's national ice hockey team continues to face a lack of respect and recognition for their achievements.

The players

Julie 'The Cat' Gaffney

The fictional female goalie character played by Colombe Jacobsen in The Mighty Ducks movies, who inspired countless young women to play hockey.

Colombe Jacobsen

The actress who played Julie 'The Cat' Gaffney in The Mighty Ducks movies and has since reflected on the character's lasting impact on women in sports.

Aerin Frankel

The record-breaking goalie for the U.S. women's national ice hockey team, who has faced belittlement from the current U.S. president.

Hilary Knight

The captain of the U.S. women's national ice hockey team, who is the highest scorer in Olympic history with 17 medals.

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The takeaway

This story highlights the ongoing fight for respect and equality in women's sports, and the importance of celebrating the achievements of female athletes to inspire the next generation. The impact of the Mighty Ducks franchise and Colombe Jacobsen's role as Julie 'The Cat' Gaffney demonstrates how powerful representation can be in shaping the aspirations of young women, and the need to continue amplifying the success of the U.S. women's national ice hockey team.