So here is formal announcement of a really unique opportunity for Minnesota Girls Hockey. The 2010 Olympic Team will be based in Blaine at the Super Rink. What a great opportunity for HS players, youth hockey and future hockey players to see first hand - hopefully the local media will highlight but what a great opportunity for players to watch America's best and this can springboard the future success for girls in Minnesota!! I understand the MN Whitecaps will play the US Team a few times.
Forty-One Players Invited to 2009 USA Hockey Women's National Festival
July 9, 2009
Click here to download the full roster
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey today announced 41 players selected to participate in the 2009 USA Hockey Women’s National Festival, which will take place August 18-24 in Blaine, Minn. The Festival will serve as the selection camp for the 2009-10 U.S. Women's National Team that will compete in the Qwest Tour, a 10-game domestic tour that begins Sept. 25 and ends just prior to the start of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.
Two-time Olympian Julie Chu is one of the seasoned veterans on the camp roster.
Relive the 2009 World Championship through Cornelia Holden's photo blog!
Among this year's attendees are nine Olympians, including Jenny Potter (Edina, Minn.) and Angela Ruggiero (Harper Woods, Mich.), who are each vying for their fourth Olympic appearance in 2010. They join two-time Olympians Julie Chu (Fairfield, Conn.) and Natalie Darwitz (Eagan, Minn.) as the most seasoned veterans on the camp roster.
In addition, all 21 members of the U.S. Women's National Team that captured the gold medal at the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship will participate in the Festival, as well as seven additional players who were part of either the gold-medal winning 2008 U.S. Women's National Team or the U.S. Women's Select Team that garnered the 2008 Four Nations Cup championship. Further, six of the attendees earned a gold medal with Team USA at the IIHF World Women's U18 Championship in either 2008 or 2009.
"The selection process for this camp has been ongoing for years," said Michele Amidon, director of women's hockey for USA Hockey, as well as the general manager of the 2010 Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team. "Our staff has thoroughly evaluated the talent pool in the U.S. and has put together the absolute top crop of candidates to represent our country for the upcoming season."
The Festival participants will be divided into two teams for daily practices and games at the Schwan Super Rink, part of the National Sports Center. The Super Rink, which served as the home for the women's residency program set up by USA Hockey for post-collegiate members of its U.S. Women's National Program last season, will be the base for the 2009-10 U.S. Women's National Team from September until the Olympic Games.
On Aug. 24, USA Hockey will announce the roster for the 2009-10 U.S. Women's National Team. In mid-December, the 21 players who will compete in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be announced.
NOTES: A full roster can be found here... The schedule for the 2009 USA Hockey Women's National Festival will be available in early August on USAHockey.com. All practices and scrimmages are open to the public ... A media credential application for the Festival will be distributed on Friday, July 10 ... A training camp for the U.S. Women's Under-18 Select Team will take place simultaneously with the Women's National Festival. The U-18 team will travel to Calgary for the 2009 Women's Under-18 Series, which features three games against Canada from Aug. 24-27.
ABOUT THE QWEST TOUR
The Qwest Tour, sponsored by Qwest Commuunications, will feature the 2009-10 U.S. Women's National Team playing a 10-game domestic tour that begins Sept. 25 and ends just prior to the start of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C. During that time, the U.S. squad will face off with Canada; Finland; all-star teams from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, Hockey East and ECAC Hockey; and various other NCAA Division I women's ice hockey teams. For a full schedule, tickets and more information, visit QwestTour.com.
2009 USA Hockey Women’s National Festival Roster
Name Ht (cm) Wt (kg) Birthdate S/C Hometown 2008-09 Team
GOALTENDERS (5)
Chanda Gunn* 5-7 (171) 148 (67) 1/27/80 L Huntington Beach, Calif. 2008-09 U.S. Women’s Select Team
Brianne McLaughlin 5-8 (174) 130 (59) 6/20/87 L Sheffield Village, Ohio Robert Morris University (CHA)
Molly Schaus 5-8 (174) 148 (67) 7/29/88 L Natick, Mass. Boston College (HEA)
Megan Van Beusekom 5-8 (174) 170 (77) 12/14/81 L Loretto, Minn. 2008-09 U.S. Women’s Select Team/Minnesota Whitecaps (WWHL)
Jessie Vetter 5-8 (174) 169 (77) 12/19/85 L Cottage Grove, Wis. University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
DEFENSEMEN (12)
Kacey Bellamy 5-8 (174) 143 (65) 4/22/87 L Westfield, Mass. University of New Hampshire (HEA)
Caitlin Cahow* 5-4 (163) 156 (71) 5/20/85 L Branford, Conn. 2008-09 U.S. Women’s Select Team/Minnesota Whitecaps (WWHL)
Lisa Chesson 5-6 (169) 152 (69) 8/18/86 L Plainfield, Ill. 2008-09 U.S. Women’s Select Team/Minnesota Whitecaps (WWHL)
Rachael Drazan 5-6 (168) 150 (68) 1/11/86 L Orono, Minn. University of Minnesota (WCHA) Molly Engstrom* 5-9 (175) 178 (81) 3/1/83 R Siren, Wis. 2008-09 U.S. Women’s Select Team/Minnesota Whitecaps (WWHL)
Geena Prough 5-2 (157) 155 (70) 3/28/89 R Farmington, Mich. Mercyhurst College (CHA)
Helen Resor* 5-9 (175) 142 (64) 10/18/85 L Greenwich, Conn. Yale University (ECACH)
Angela Ruggiero*** 5-9 (175) 192 (87) 1/3/80 R Harper Woods, Mich. 2008-09 U.S. Women’s Select Team/Minnesota Whitecaps (WWHL) Anne Schleper 5-10 (178) 167 (76) 1/30/90 L St. Cloud, Minn. University of Minnesota (WCHA) Sasha Sherry 6-0 (183) 181 (82) 4/5/90 R Lehighton, Pa. Princeton University (ECACH)
Maggie Taverna 5-8 (174) 149 (68) 7/22/87 R Howell, N.J. Boston College (HEA)
Kerry Weiland 5-4 (163) 142 (64) 10/18/80 L Palmer, Alaska 2008-09 U.S. Women’s Select Team
FORWARDS (24)
Brooke Ammerman 5-8 (174) 155 (70) 7/13/90 R River Vale, N.J. University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
Julie Chu** 5-8 (174) 147 (67) 3/13/82 R Fairfield, Conn. 2008-09 U.S. Women’s Select Team/Minnesota Whitecaps (WWHL)
Kendall Coyne 5-0 (152) 115 (52) 5/25/92 L Palos Heights, Ill. Chicago Mission U19 (MWEHL)
Natalie Darwitz** 5-3 (160) 137 (62) 10/13/83 R Eagan, Minn. 2008-09 U.S. Women’s Select Team Brianna Decker 5-4 (163) 152 (69) 5/13/91 R Dousman, Wis. Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Minn.) (MWEHL)
Meghan Duggan 5-9 (175) 164 (74) 9/3/87 R Danvers, Mass. University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
Sam Faber 5-4 (163) 137 (62) 5/8/87 R Mt. Sinai, N.Y. University of New Hampshire (HEA)
Meghan Fardelmann 5-8 (174) 155 (70) 6/7/87 R Lansing, Kan. Boston College (HEA)
Crysti Howser 5-6 (168) 155 (70) 8/30/87 L Wilmette, Ill. Yale University (ECACH)
Angie Keseley 5-7 (171) 148 (67) 6/9/87 L St. Louis Park, Minn. University of Wisconsin (WCHA) Amanda Kessel 5-6 (168) 130 (59) 8/28/91 R Madison, Wis. Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Minn.) (MWEHL)
Hilary Knight 5-10 (178) 172 (78) 7/12/89 R Hanover, N.H. University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
Jessica Koizumi 5-4 (163) 145 (66) 4/15/85 L Simi Valley, Calif. 2008-09 U.S. Women’s Select Team/Minnesota Whitecaps (WWHL)
Jocelyne Lamoureux 5-6 (168) 154 (70) 7/3/89 R Grand Forks, N.D. University of Minnesota (WCHA)
Monique Lamoureux 5-6 (168) 156 (71) 7/3/89 R Grand Forks, N.D. University of Minnesota (WCHA)
Erika Lawler 5-0 (152) 130 (59) 2/5/87 R Fitchburg, Mass. University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
Gigi Marvin 5-8 (174) 166 (75) 3/7/87 R Warroad, Minn. University of Minnesota (WCHA)
Erica McKenzie 5-7 (171) 154 (70) 5/26/86 L Hastings, Minn. 2008-09 U.S. Women’s Select Team Sarah Parsons* 5-8 (174) 144 (65) 7/27/87 R Dover, Mass. Dartmouth College (ECACH)
Jenny Potter*** 5-4 (163) 145 (66) 1/12/79 L Edina, Minn. 2008-09 U.S. Women’s Select Team/Minnesota Whitecaps (WWHL) Kelli Stack 5-5 (165) 130 (59) 1/13/88 R Brooklyn Heights, Ohio Boston College (HEA)
Karen Thatcher 5-8 (174) 164 (74) 2/29/84 L Blaine, Wash. 2008-09 U.S. Women’s Select Team/Minnesota Whitecaps (WWHL)
Allie Thunstrom 5-5 (165) 145 (66) 4/20/88 R Maplewood, Minn. Boston College (HEA) Jinelle Zaugg 6-0 (183) 180 (82) 3/27/86 L Eagle River, Wis. 2008-09 U.S. Women’s Select Team/Minnesota Whitecaps (WWHL)
* 2006 Olympian ** 2002 & 2006 Olympian *** 1998, 2002 & 2006 Olympian
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