University of Minnesota Athletics
Seven Gophers Named to U.S. Under-22 Team
6/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Seven University of Minnesota student athletes have been named to the United States Under-22 Team, announced by USA Hockey. The Gopher seven, along with 15 other individuals, will compete against Canada in August. Megan Bozek (Buffalo Grove, Ill.), Sarah Erickson (Roseau, Minn.), Alyssa Grogan (Eagan, Minn.), Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.), Anne Schleper (St. Cloud, Minn.), Jen Schoullis (Erie, Pa.) and Emily West (Colorado Springs, Colo.) have all been named to the team. The 2010 team marks the first appearances to the Under-22 Team for Bozek, Erickson, Kessel and Schoullis, the second time for West and Schleper. The Minnesota contingent is the largest group from one school.
The Under-22 Team will begin competition together at the Women's National Festival, which runs from August 13-21 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y. The U22 team will depart from the Festival early and travel to Toronto to compete in the three-game Under-22 Series against Canada from August 18-21.
In her first year with the Gophers, Bozek was named a second-team All-WCHA selection and a member of the WCHA All-Rookie team. Tied for fifth on the team in scoring and second among defensemen, Bozek scored 24 points as a freshman. A member of the Gopher power play unit, Bozek led the team in power-play points with 20 of her 24 points.
Erickson played in all 40 games and ranked second on the team in scoring with 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points. In her sophomore season, Erickson improved her point production by 17 points from her rookie campaign. She had 10 multiple-point games and ranked second on the team in goals and assists. Over the course of the year, Erickson was a two-time WCHA Offensive Player of the Week.
Grogan is making her first trek to the Under-22s. In 13 games played, Grogan posted an 8-3-1 record, including in net against Wisconsin to help the Gophers tie for the WCHA regular season championship. Grogan also recorded two shutouts in 12 starts during her sophomore campaign.
Although Kessel has yet to play a game with the Maroon and Gold, she is considered one of the best players out of the national freshman class. Prior to her time at Minnesota, she played her high school career at Shattuck-St. Mary’s with teammate Jen Schoullis. Kessel is no stranger to the USA Hockey competition. She has been a member of the Under-18 Team and in 2009, was named the tournament’s most valuable forward.
Schleper had a breakthrough season last year with the Gophers when she was named a first-team All-American, a Patty Kazmaier nominee and the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year. In her sophomore season, Schleper scored 12 goals and 20 assists for 32 points, ranking fourth on the team and first among defensemen. Nationally, Schleper ranked sixth in points by a defensemen and first within the WCHA.
Schoullis will return to the Gopher lineup after a shoulder injury sidelined her for the 2009-10 season. After a solid sophomore year in 2008-09, Schoullis was fourth on the team in scoring with 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points. Like Erickson, Schoullis made a huge jump in point production from her freshman to sophomore year, tallying 20 points more than her rookie totals. As a sophomore she had three power-play goals and nine multiple-point games.
West enters her senior year with the Gophers after a highly successful junior season. As a team captain, West led the Gopher scoring with 23 goals and 23 assists for 46 points. A first-team All-WCHA selection and a Patty Kazmaier nominee, West led the nation in game-winning goals and tied for third overall in short-handed goals. Minnesota finished the season 17-2-0 when West scored a goal.
Team USA 2010 Under-22 Series Schedule
August 18-21 • Toronto, Ont. • MasterCard Centre
Date Opponent Time (EDT)
Wed., Aug. 18 Canada 7 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 19 Canada 7 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 21 Canada 7 p.m.
