University of Minnesota Athletics

Gopher Olympic Hopefuls Update: Dec. 4

12/4/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey

Dec. 4, 2017

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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 included the 2017 Four Nations Cup in November in Tampa, Fla., and Canada's National Women's Team and the U.S. Women's National Team are facing off in a six-game exhibition series. The teams played have played three games, most recently facing off in St. Paul, Minn., over the weekend. The remaining games are set for 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.

Recently, the U.S. Women's National Team took home Team of the Year honors as part of the 2017 Team USA Awards, Best of the Year, in Los Angeles, and young players from the Anaheim Lady Ducks, a USA Hockey Model Association, accepted the award on the team's behalf. In addition, seven Minnesota natives shared their thoughts on the opportunity to play in front of family and friends in St. Paul, Minn., over the weekend.

Canada's National Women's Team Update

University of Minnesota junior Sarah Potomak is centralized with Canada's National Women's Team; her sister and 2017-18 Gopher signee Amy Potomak began the season with Team Canada but she was released from the team in late November.

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, along with the exhibition series with the U.S.

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.

Game 3: Canada 2, U.S. 1 (OT), (St. Paul)

On Sunday, the U.S. and Canada met at the Xcel Energy Center as part of the U.S. Women's National Team's The Time is Now Tour. Canada secured a 2-1 overtime win. Six Gophers took the ice in St. Paul, Minn., as Sarah Potomak saw ice time with Canada and Hannah Brandt, Dani Cameranesi, Gigi Marvin, Kelly Pannek, and Lee Stecklein represented the U.S. Fellow Gophers Megan Bozek and Amanda Kessel did not dress for the U.S.

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Players Mentioned

19

Megan Bozek

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/ Women's Hockey
22

Hannah Brandt

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/ Women's Hockey
21

Dani Cameranesi

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/ Women's Hockey
7

Mira Jalosuo

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/ Women's Hockey
8

Amanda Kessel

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/ Women's Hockey
19

Kelly Pannek

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/ Women's Hockey
16

Amy Potomak

F
/ Women's Hockey
26

Sarah Potomak

F
/ Women's Hockey
41

Noora Raty

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/ Women's Hockey
2

Lee Stecklein

D
/ Women's Hockey

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