University of Minnesota Athletics

Gopher Olympic Hopefuls Update: Nov. 25

11/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey

Nov. 25, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS -- Ten Golden Gophers could compete in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games as seven are centralized with the U.S. Women's National Team, one is training full-time with Canada's National Women's Team, and two alumnae are expected to represent Finland in Pyeongchang, South Korea next February.

Each week, GopherSports.com will look at the recent competitions, appearances, and activities for the 10 Gopher Olympic hopefuls with their respective countries.

Pre-Olympic competition for the U.S., Canada, and Finland includes the 2017 Four Nations Cup in November in Tampa, Fla. Canada's National Women's Team and the U.S. Women's National Team will face off in a six-game exhibition series. The teams played the first two of six games this week, splitting two games Sunday in Quebec and Wednesday in Boston. The remaining four games are set for St. Paul (Dec. 3), Winnipeg (Dec. 5), San Jose (Dec. 15), and Edmonton (Dec. 17).

U.S. Women's National Team Update

University of Minnesota senior Kelly Pannek joins six Gopher alumnae in residency with the U.S. Women's National Team: Megan Bozek ('13), Hannah Brandt ('16), Dani Cameranesi ('17), Amanda Kessel ('16), Gigi Marvin ('09), and Lee Stecklein ('17).

The team is centralized in the Tampa suburb of Wesley Chapel as players train at Florida Hospital Center Ice in preparation for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. The U.S. Women's National Team's pre-Olympic tour, The Time is Now Tour presented by Toyota, includes a series of games this fall and winter.

The next stop on The Time is Now Tour has the U.S. and Canada facing off in St. Paul, Minn., on Sunday, Dec. 3 at the Xcel Energy Center. Members of the team have had some special appearances to promote the upcoming game.

Canada's National Women's Team Update

University of Minnesota junior Sarah Potomak and incoming recruit Amy Potomak began the season centralized with Canada's National Women's Team, but Amy Potomak's 2018 Olympic dream came to an end this week as she was released from the team.

Sarah Potomak remains with Team Canada in preparation for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Canada's pre-Olympic tour includes a 24-game schedule against opponents from the Alberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL) as part of the team's Where the Journey Begins tour.

Finland Women's National Team Update

University of Minnesota alumnae Noora Raty ('13) and Mira Jalosuo ('13) are also expected to represent their native Finland in the upcoming Olympic Games. Raty is spending the 2017-18 season playing with the CWHL's Kunlun Red Star.

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Players Mentioned

19

Megan Bozek

D
/ Women's Hockey
22

Hannah Brandt

F
/ Women's Hockey
21

Dani Cameranesi

F
/ Women's Hockey
7

Mira Jalosuo

D
/ Women's Hockey
8

Amanda Kessel

F
/ Women's Hockey
19

Kelly Pannek

F
/ Women's Hockey
16

Amy Potomak

F
/ Women's Hockey
26

Sarah Potomak

F
/ Women's Hockey
41

Noora Raty

G
/ Women's Hockey
2

Lee Stecklein

D
/ Women's Hockey

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