Eight Badgers selected to U.S. National Team
August 24, 2009 | Women's Hockey
Two current and six former Badgers were selected to the 23-player roster for the U.S. Women's National Team, USA Hockey announced today. Five of the Badgers were part of the 2009 NCAA championship team, which includes Patty Kazmaier Award winner Jessie Vetter, Erika Lawler, Meghan Duggan, Hilary Knight and Angie Keseley. Former Olympian Molly Engstrom is the only Badger with Olympic experience representing Team USA. Kerry Weiland and Jinelle Zaugg-Siergiej have also had plenty of experience on a U.S. Women's National Team.
Knight and Duggan will redshirt the 2009-10 season at Wisconsin to train with the U.S. National Team. Keseley is one of two players selected who has not played on a U.S. National Team prior to the selection.
Weiland, Engstrom, Knight, Duggan, Vetter and Lawler were members of the U.S. Women's National Team that captured back-to-back gold medals at the 2008 and 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship.
The squad, which will be centralized in the Twin Cities, will take part in the Qwest Tour, a 10-game, nine-city domestic tour that begins on Sept. 25 in St. Paul, Minn., and concludes just prior to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.
In addition to the 10 Qwest Tour stops, Team USA will compete in two international tournaments, as well as three games against the Canadian National Team in Canada and additional games against Minnesota high school boys' teams.
The team was selected following the 2009 USA Hockey Women's National Festival, which ran from Aug. 19-23 at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. The festival featured 41 of the top female hockey players in the United States.
"Although this is a tough day, it's also an exciting day," said Mark Johnson, head coach of the 2009-10 U.S. Women's National Team and 2010 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team. "We put a lot of time, energy and thought into the selection of this team and we ended up with a great mix of experienced Olympic veterans, as well as players who are looking to compete in the Games for the first time. This process started three years ago and the experience the players have gained during that time will help them in our preparations as we move toward Vancouver."
The United States roster includes three goaltenders, seven defensemen and 13 forwards. Six of the players have Olympic experience and 21 athletes have competed in an International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship, including 20 who have captured a gold medal either this year or last. Nineteen of the 21 players from the 2009 U.S. Women's National Team return to the squad for the 2009-10 season.
In addition, 13 members of Team USA played NCAA Division I women's ice hockey during the 2008-09 season, while the remaining 10 were on the 2008-09 U.S. Women's Select Team, part of a residency program set up by USA Hockey in Blaine. Of the 13 NCAA players, six have NCAA eligibility remaining.
Roster Highlights
' 6 Olympians
' 20 World Champions
' 19 returnees from the 2009 U.S. Women's National Team
' 10 members of the 2008-09 U.S. Women's Select Team
' 8 players who have competed in Western Women's Hockey League
' 13 NCAA Division I players (2008-09)
' 12 participants in the 2009 NCAA tournament
' 9 NCAA national champions
' 9 participants in the 2009 NCAA Women's Frozen Four
' 5 winners of the 2009 NCAA National Championship
' 3 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recipients
The 2009-10 U.S. Women's National Team will make its first public appearance on Thursday (Aug. 27) at the Minnesota State Fair. The players will participate in the daily parade at 2 p.m., followed by a meet and greet in Carousel Park from 3-5 p.m. The team departs for Vancouver for the 2009 Hockey Canada Cup on Sat., Aug. 29. For a full schedule of events during the 2009-10 season, please visit QwestTour.com.
ABOUT THE QWEST TOUR
The Qwest Tour, presented by Qwest Communications, 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 against 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 more details, including the full schedule and ticket information, visit QwestTour.com.
