University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Represent National Teams
12/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - The Golden Gophers had representatives playing for the United States, Canada, and Finland in two recent international competitions. Seven Gophers faced off in the two-game 2016 Winter Series between the United States and Canada while alumni Mira Jalosuo and Noora Raty played for Finland in a four-team tournament in Sweden.
December Series
In the December Series between the U.S. and Canada, sophomore Sarah Potomak joined younger sister and future Gopher Amy Potomak in representing their native Canada, while senior Lee Stecklein joined University of Minnesota alumni Hannah Brandt, Megan Bozek, Amanda Kessel, and Anne Schleper in playing for the U.S. Canada won both games of the series.
In Plymouth, Mich., Canada topped the U.S. by a score of 5-3 to take game one. Canada struck first early in the first period, before the U.S. scored twice to take the 2-1 lead at the end of the opening frame. The U.S. scored again just over five minutes into the second period, but Canada would score four unanswered goals before the game concluded to secure a 5-3 win. Brandt and Kessel both registered one shot in the game.
During the second game of the series held in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada took the early lead again. The U.S. responded to tie the game at one before the first period concluded. In the middle frame, Team USA took a 2-1 lead. The third period remained scoreless until Canada scored to tie the game with 24 seconds left in regulation. Forty-two seconds into overtime, Marie-Philip Poulin scored to win the game for Canada.
Euro Hockey Tour
Meanwhile, in Sweden, former Gophers Jalosuo and Raty helped Finland's women's national team to a sweep at the Euro Hockey Tour tournament with wins over Russia, Sweden, and, Germany. Raty was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
Finland defeated Russia, 6-2, before earning back-to-back 4-0 shutout wins over Sweden and Germany. Against Russia, Jalosuo picked up two assists, and Raty made 25 saves. Jalosuo added another assist in Finland's 4-0 win over Sweden while Raty earned a 16-save shutout.
International Play Continues
International action continues during the holiday break. Jalosuo and Raty were both selected to represent Finland at the upcoming Nations Cup where they will face off against three Gophers on Canada's National Women's Development Team. Gophers Sarah Potomak and Lindsay Agnew are set to join Minnesota alumna Sarah Davis in representing their home country as Canada, Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland meet for the four-day international tournament.
The Nations Cup runs Wednesday, Jan. 4 through Saturday, Jan. 7 in Füssen, Germany and Telfs, Austria. The tournament is formerly known as the Air Canada Cup, MLP Cup and Meco Cup.
In addition, five future Gophers will represent their home countries at the 2017 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship. Alex Gulstene (Vancouver, British Columbia), Taylor Wente (Plymouth, Minn.), and Grace Zumwinkle (Excelsior, Minn.) will represent the U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team, and Amy Potomak (Aldergrove, B.C.) and Olivia Knowles (Campbell River, B.C.) have been selected to represent Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team at the tournament. Gophers associate head coach Joel Johnson continues as head coach of the U.S. Women's Under-18 Team, now in his third-straight season leading the squad.
The 2017 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship is set for Jan. 7-14 in Prerov and Zlin, Czech Republic. The U.S. is set to play Russia (Jan. 7), Sweden (Jan. 8) and Canada (Jan. 10) in the preliminary round. Along with its match-up with the U.S., Canada opens the tournament against Sweden (Jan. 7) and faces Russia (Jan. 8). The bronze-medal and gold-medal games are on Saturday, Jan. 14.
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