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There are new opportunities for females to participate in international events on USA Hockey Women's teams with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) announcing the inaugural U18 Women's National Championships set for January 5-13, 2008.

USA Hockey announced at the Annual Congress in June that female players will be selected from their development camps to participate in additional camps and events coming up later this year and in 2008. A Player Performance Camp was just held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from June 11-14. The National Festival in Lake Placid, New York, August 14-21 will include 66 players on three teams: U18, U22 and Over 22. Laura Halldorson will help coach an Under 22 team in a three game series in Lake Placid, New York, August 21-26. The U18 National Team will play a three game series in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, from August 21-26. The Four Nations Cup will not include any NCAA players and will take place November 4-12 in Leksand, Sweden, with a pre-camp in Ann Arbor, Michigan, October 28-November 3. A Holiday Camp is set for December 26-January 1 at Lake Placid, New York, and will include the U18 players. The inaugural eight team U18 IIHF Women's World Championships will be held in Canada from January 5-13, 2008. The IIHF Women's World Championships will be held in Harbin, China, from April 1-13 with a pre-World Camp in Colorado Springs March 24-31, 2008.

The new events should provide females under 22 with goals to make the development camps and also helps the 19, 20 and 21 year olds, who sometimes appear to be left out of the process once they go to college, realize that there is a team for them to try out and international competition. Kudos to the IIHF and USA Hockey!!

One of the downsides of having the U18 team is that the field for the U22s will be greatly reduced compared to years past. The 22s will have 25 players, and four players will be cut to make the team that will compete against the Canadians in Lake Placid.

Hux wrote:One of the downsides of having the U18 team is that the field for the U22s will be greatly reduced compared to years past. The 22s will have 25 players, and four players will be cut to make the team that will compete against the Canadians in Lake Placid.

How many U18 eligible players were picked last time for the 22's?

Hilary Knight was probably the only high school player on the U22 team. The other players were in college.

girlshockey wrote:Hilary Knight was probably the only high school player on the U22 team. The other players were in college.

Correct indeed, as she was the only high schooler/17 year old out of the 40 players at the Women's Festival last August.

Hux wrote:

girlshockey wrote:Hilary Knight was probably the only high school player on the U22 team. The other players were in college.

Correct indeed, as she was the only high schooler/17 year old out of the 40 players at the Women's Festival last August.

girlshockey - you forgot to mention the obvious (local) high school juniors that played on the USA Women's U22 team this year: Lamoureux twins.

puckmaniac wrote:

Hux wrote:

girlshockey wrote:Hilary Knight was probably the only high school player on the U22 team. The other players were in college.

Correct indeed, as she was the only high schooler/17 year old out of the 40 players at the Women's Festival last August.

girlshockey - you forgot to mention the obvious (local) high school juniors that played on the USA Women's U22 team this year: Lamoureux twins.

They were not on the u22 team, but on the Four Nations team so as to lock them up for future Team USA play.

When are the U18 camp/team selections announced?

I've "heard" that they will wait until the completion of the 15 camp to make the announcement, but I have also heard that the team is already picked and they won't be taking any players other than the '90s. I'll try to get a more definitive answer directly from the Home Office.

edit: Looks like the team has been picked, and has been notified via e-mail. I'd expect that there will be a formal announcement on the USA Hockey web site before the end of the week.

Hux - thanks for the info. Looking forward to hearing which players will wear the red, white, & blue!

ghshockeyfan wrote:Hux - thanks for the info. Looking forward to hearing which players will wear the red, white, & blue!

As much as I am looking forward to reading Harry Potter 7, and finally finding out who gets killed, and how things are resolved (or not) I think the suspense as to who will make this first U18 team is even worse.

Indeed & agreed, and I just found out one of my favorite MN players made the U18 so I couldn't be more happy.

Also, good news, heard about 3 new gopher bound players as well as one to St. Cloud for next year that I didn't know about before. All nice additions too and maybe old news for some but was news to me and good news at that!

Can't wait to see the rest of the U18 list and also start to hear more college commitments...

ghshockeyfan,

so are you going to let us know who your favorite MN player is that made the U18 team or maybe its a secret. And also who are the new 3 gopher bound girls?

The eight girls from MN that made the team are all good players. How exciting for them all.

Where is the roster posted? I have not seen it on the USA hockey website yet.

Thanks.

nuttinbuthockey wrote:ghshockeyfan,

so are you going to let us know who your favorite MN player is that made the U18 team or maybe its a secret. And also who are the new 3 gopher bound girls?

The eight girls from MN that made the team are all good players. How exciting for them all.

When I found out that "one" player had made it, and she is "one" of my favorites that I've had the honor of working with ("coaching") during the off season, I was happy for her. When I found out that at least 8 MN players were on the team, I couldn't be more happy for all of them. They are all great and congrats to them all!!! Sorry if it came across as an only "favorite" and no others should be recognized, etc. That wasn't my point!

It's not my place to announce these things unless I'm asked to. Lots of great players in MN. I look forward to seeing all of them play college that move on to that level, and also congrats to those that made the U18 team. That is a high honor!

SportsMa wrote:Where is the roster posted? I have not seen it on the USA hockey website yet.

Thanks.

I haven't found anything posted yet, but that doesn't mean that a list isn't out there somewhere.

I have heard the list of players for both U18 & U22 will be out as soon as all the young ladies get their paperwork in.

ghshockeyfan wrote:

SportsMa wrote:Where is the roster posted? I have not seen it on the USA hockey website yet.

Thanks.

I haven't found anything posted yet, but that doesn't mean that a list isn't out there somewhere.

The "list" isn't out, and won't be until, as was noted, all the paperwork is completed. The formal announcement will come sometime next week.

Thanks! I thought I was just not looking in the right place.

Sounds like there is good representation from Minnesota. Way to go, Ladies!

The list is posted on the USA hockey website now.

http://www.usahockey.com/uploadedFiles/ ... roster.doc

http://www.usahockey.com/Template_Usaho ... eyType=ICE

There are 21 players from Minnesota listed on the National Festival roster list. That doesn't include Krissy Wendell who is getting married in August to Johnny Pohl. Minnesota will be well represented on all of the teams and into the future as well.

ghshockeyfan wrote:http://www.usahockey.com/uploadedFiles/ ... roster.doc

http://www.usahockey.com/Template_Usaho ... eyType=ICE

Did Krissy Wendell retire? If not, it's hard to believe she was bypassed.

girlshockey wrote:There are 21 players from Minnesota listed on the National Festival roster list. That doesn't include Krissy Wendell who is getting married in August to Johnny Pohl. Minnesota will be well represented on all of the teams and into the future as well.

Oops, I missed seeing your post before hitting "submit" and you answered my question. Glad to hear she plans to keep playing.

Great list of girls, would have like to seen Lauren Zrust on U-18 to see how she puts the puck away in international comp. Not knocking anyone on the list JMHO I know the game is not ALL about goals, but the kid seems to find the net in every game..