University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Women's Hockey Represented on Team USA
11/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Wednesday night, the women faced the experienced Canadian team and had trouble finding their footing. The Gopher participants credited this mainly to the fact that many of the teammates had never met before Tuesday and were unfamiliar with their new linemates' playing styles. In addition to playing amidst thousands of Canadian fans, the U.S. team was missing a few key players due to college and other commitments.
"The first game against Canada, we had only met a lot of our teammates the day before and had one pre-game skate," Brodt said. "We still needed to get comfortable with everyone and learn how to use each other as players."
The following night, the United States faced Finland. Boosted by a Stephens goal scored on a save by Finland's goalie in the third period and a late-game empty-net goal by Wendell, the Gophers captured their first victory, 3-1. Stephens was named her team's MVP of the game for her tie-breaking goal.
"It was Kelly's first time out there as a member of the U.S. team and she was unbelievable," Darwitz said. It's good to show that our new, upcoming players can help our team out and have a good future with USA hockey. I was really proud of her." Saturday the United States dominated Sweden, 12-2, with great help from Wendell's six points, Darwitz's five, and Brodt and Stephens' one apiece.
The U.S. again faced team Canada in the gold-medal game on Sunday night. Although the team felt more comfortable with each other due to several practices and experience in three games together, Canada was still able to edge out the United States with 54 seconds left in the game and then an empty-net goal. "I've played with the U.S. team for about four years, off and on, and I have not won in a big game yet, and it's because of Canada," Wendell said. "I don't know what it is, because the teams are so neck-and-neck. We're always so close, but we can't seem to get it."
"A minor mistake here is a turnover, but against Canada it is a goal," Stephens said. "For them, hockey is their lives, and it definitely shows in their playing ability."
The team was coached by Ben Smith, who served as coach for the 2002 Olympic women's hockey team. Smith, whose directive, hard-nosed style is different to that of Gophers head coach Laura Halldorson, was nonetheless appreciated and respected by the Minnesota players.
"He has high expectations and knows what he wants," Stephens said. "I like coaches who keep the control, so I've its very easy for me to respect Ben Smith, because he is someone that keeps that power onto himself."
While the four players were concentrating on international play, their Minnesota teammates had a contest of their own-a Friday-Saturday series vs. WCHA opponent Bemidji State. Even with missing four of their key starters, the Gophers finished the weekend 1-0-1, defeating the Beavers 4-1 Friday and tying 2-2 Saturday.
"I think they played really well, and that shows a lot of character in the team," Wendell said. "It's a chance to see what we're really made of, and they proved they can step up and perform without four players."
Although the Gophers, players and staff, strongly supported the players' decision to miss out on the weekend series to play in the Four Nations Cup, there were some feelings of regret about missing games wearing the Maroon and Gold.
"You want to wear the USA on your jersey, but at the same time you don't want to leave the team you committed to," Darwitz said. "But when you've got the opportunity to go represent your country, you can't turn that down."
Missing these four star players from the lineup proved that the Gophers are a team of depth and also brought them benefit-lessons in hockey to be taught by their teammates.
"For that week, we are playing with the top players in the country, so it lifts our play and it makes us better players," Brodt said. "Therefore when we come back to our team here, we can help lift them and bring them to the next level. It's a win-win situation."
Written by Media Relations Student Assistant Kimberly Jackson
Four members of the Gopher women's hockey team played on the 2002 United States Women's Select Team in the Four Nations cup last weekend, held in Kitchener, Ontario. Forwards Kelly Stephens, Krissy Wendell and Natalie Darwitz were joined by defender Winny Brodt in representing the University of Minnesota in the event. The team, composed of twenty women from around the nation, skated to a silver-medal finish against Canada, losing the game in the final seconds of the third period, 4-2.
Wednesday night, the women faced the experienced Canadian team and had trouble finding their footing. The Gopher participants credited this mainly to the fact that many of the teammates had never met before Tuesday and were unfamiliar with their new linemates' playing styles. In addition to playing amidst thousands of Canadian fans, the U.S. team was missing a few key players due to college and other commitments.
"The first game against Canada, we had only met a lot of our teammates the day before and had one pre-game skate," Brodt said. "We still needed to get comfortable with everyone and learn how to use each other as players."
The following night, the United States faced Finland. Boosted by a Stephens goal scored on a save by Finland's goalie in the third period and a late-game empty-net goal by Wendell, the Gophers captured their first victory, 3-1. Stephens was named her team's MVP of the game for her tie-breaking goal.
"It was Kelly's first time out there as a member of the U.S. team and she was unbelievable," Darwitz said. It's good to show that our new, upcoming players can help our team out and have a good future with USA hockey. I was really proud of her." Saturday the United States dominated Sweden, 12-2, with great help from Wendell's six points, Darwitz's five, and Brodt and Stephens' one apiece.
The U.S. again faced team Canada in the gold-medal game on Sunday night. Although the team felt more comfortable with each other due to several practices and experience in three games together, Canada was still able to edge out the United States with 54 seconds left in the game and then an empty-net goal. "I've played with the U.S. team for about four years, off and on, and I have not won in a big game yet, and it's because of Canada," Wendell said. "I don't know what it is, because the teams are so neck-and-neck. We're always so close, but we can't seem to get it."
"A minor mistake here is a turnover, but against Canada it is a goal," Stephens said. "For them, hockey is their lives, and it definitely shows in their playing ability."
The team was coached by Ben Smith, who served as coach for the 2002 Olympic women's hockey team. Smith, whose directive, hard-nosed style is different to that of Gophers head coach Laura Halldorson, was nonetheless appreciated and respected by the Minnesota players.
"He has high expectations and knows what he wants," Stephens said. "I like coaches who keep the control, so I've its very easy for me to respect Ben Smith, because he is someone that keeps that power onto himself."
While the four players were concentrating on international play, their Minnesota teammates had a contest of their own-a Friday-Saturday series vs. WCHA opponent Bemidji State. Even with missing four of their key starters, the Gophers finished the weekend 1-0-1, defeating the Beavers 4-1 Friday and tying 2-2 Saturday.
"I think they played really well, and that shows a lot of character in the team," Wendell said. "It's a chance to see what we're really made of, and they proved they can step up and perform without four players."
Although the Gophers, players and staff, strongly supported the players' decision to miss out on the weekend series to play in the Four Nations Cup, there were some feelings of regret about missing games wearing the Maroon and Gold.
"You want to wear the USA on your jersey, but at the same time you don't want to leave the team you committed to," Darwitz said. "But when you've got the opportunity to go represent your country, you can't turn that down."
Missing these four star players from the lineup proved that the Gophers are a team of depth and also brought them benefit-lessons in hockey to be taught by their teammates.
"For that week, we are playing with the top players in the country, so it lifts our play and it makes us better players," Brodt said. "Therefore when we come back to our team here, we can help lift them and bring them to the next level. It's a win-win situation."
Written by Media Relations Student Assistant Kimberly Jackson
