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/ Women's Hockey
Photo by: USA Hockey
10 Gophers Ready to Battle for Gold in Beijing
2/2/2022 10:36:00 AM | Women's Hockey
The puck drops on the 2022 Winter Olympic Games tonight with Minnesota representatives on three different countries.
MINNEAPOLIS – 10 players with Gopher women's hockey ties will compete in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China as two current and six Gopher alumnae were named to the 2022 U.S. Women's Olympic Team and one incoming freshman was named to both Team Finland and Sweden.
Fifth-year Grace Zumwinkle, sophomore Abbey Murphy and Gopher alumnae Megan Bozek ('13), Hannah Brandt ('16), Dani Cameranesi ('17), Amanda Kessel ('16), Kelly Pannek ('18), Lee Stecklein ('17) will don the Red, White, and Blue for Team USA. Newest Gopher signee Nelli Latinen will represent Team Finland, while fellow signee Josefin Bouveng will play for Team Sweden.
Kessel and Stecklein are making their third Olympic Games appearance after earning silver at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, and gold in the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Brandt, Cameranesi and Pannek also return to the line-up for the Red, White, and Blue after earning gold in 2018. Bozek makes her return to the Olympic scene after earning silver in 2014. Murphy and Zumwinkle are set to make their Olympic debuts.
Laitinen becomes the third Finnish player in program history and the third to play for Team Finland in the Olympics. Noora Raty and Mira Jalosuo each earned bronze in the 2018 games in Pyeongchang. Josefin Bouveng becomes the first Swedish player in program history and the first Gopher to represent Team Sweden at any level.
Once these games commence, 19 Gophers will have competed in the Winter Olympics, making 38 Olympic appearances for three different countries. 15 Gophers have represented the U.S. in the Olympics, while Raty, Jalosuo, and Laitinen will have combined seven appearances for Finland. Raty (four) has the most Olympic appearances overall while Kessel and Stecklein join Gigi Marvin (2010, 2014, 2018) and Natalie Darwitz (2002, 2006, 2010) in being three-time Olympians.
Former Gopher associate head coach Joel Johnson will lead the coaching staff of the 2022 U.S. Women's Olympic Team, while alumna Courtney Kennedy will serve as assistant coach. In addition, Gopher women's hockey equipment manager Brent Proulx and strength coach Cal Dietz serve the U.S. Women's Olympic Team in the same capacity.
Team USA will look to defend its second-ever gold medal after defeating Canada in a shootout in the 2018 Games. Team USA and Team Finland will compete in Group A alongside Canada, Russia, and Switzerland. Team Sweden will compete in Group B alongside China, Czech Republic, Denmark, and Japan.
The Beijing Games kick off in China on Friday, Feb. 5 and will conclude Sunday, Feb. 20. Ice hockey competition, which begins today, will be held at the Wukesong Sport Center.
Gopher Olympians' Preliminary Round Schedule (TV)
Thursday, Feb. 3: Sweden vs. Japan, 2:10 a.m. CT (None)
Thursday, Feb. 3: USA vs. Finland, 7:10 a.m. CT (USA Network)
Friday, Feb. 4: Finland vs. Canada, 10:10 p.m. CT (USA Network)
Saturday, Feb. 5: Sweden vs. Czech Republic, 2:40 a.m. CT (None)
Saturday, Feb. 5: USA vs. ROC, 7:10 a.m. CT (USA Network)
Sunday, Feb. 6: USA vs. Switzerland, 7:10 a.m. CT (USA Network)
Monday, Feb. 7: Sweden vs. China, 7:10 a.m. CT (None)
Monday, Feb. 7: Finland vs. Switzerland, 7:10 a.m. CT (None)
Monday, Feb. 7: USA vs. Canada, 10:10 p.m. CT (USA Network)
Tuesday, Feb. 8: Sweden vs. Denmark, 7:10 a.m. CT (None)
Tuesday, Feb. 8: Finland vs. ROC, 7:10 a.m. CT (None)
Olympic Women's Hockey Play-Off Schedule (TV)
Friday, Feb. 11: Quarterfinals, 10:10 p.m. CT (CNBC)
Saturday, Feb. 12: Quarterfinals, 2:40 a.m. CT (None)
Sunday, Feb. 13: Semifinals, 10:10 p.m. CT (USA Network)
Monday, Feb. 14: Semifinals, 7:10 a.m. CT (USA Network)
Wednesday, Feb. 16: Bronze Medal, 5:30 a.m. CT (None) – Tape delay broadcast at 10:00 a.m. CT (USA Network)
Wednesday, Feb. 16: Gold Medal, 10:10 p.m. CT (NBC)
Be sure to follow the Gopher Olympians on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on their activities in Beijing. Head over to GopherSports.com and navigate to the 2022 Winter Olympic Landing Page for updates on all of the Olympians with ties to the University of Minnesota.
Fifth-year Grace Zumwinkle, sophomore Abbey Murphy and Gopher alumnae Megan Bozek ('13), Hannah Brandt ('16), Dani Cameranesi ('17), Amanda Kessel ('16), Kelly Pannek ('18), Lee Stecklein ('17) will don the Red, White, and Blue for Team USA. Newest Gopher signee Nelli Latinen will represent Team Finland, while fellow signee Josefin Bouveng will play for Team Sweden.
Kessel and Stecklein are making their third Olympic Games appearance after earning silver at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, and gold in the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Brandt, Cameranesi and Pannek also return to the line-up for the Red, White, and Blue after earning gold in 2018. Bozek makes her return to the Olympic scene after earning silver in 2014. Murphy and Zumwinkle are set to make their Olympic debuts.
Laitinen becomes the third Finnish player in program history and the third to play for Team Finland in the Olympics. Noora Raty and Mira Jalosuo each earned bronze in the 2018 games in Pyeongchang. Josefin Bouveng becomes the first Swedish player in program history and the first Gopher to represent Team Sweden at any level.
Once these games commence, 19 Gophers will have competed in the Winter Olympics, making 38 Olympic appearances for three different countries. 15 Gophers have represented the U.S. in the Olympics, while Raty, Jalosuo, and Laitinen will have combined seven appearances for Finland. Raty (four) has the most Olympic appearances overall while Kessel and Stecklein join Gigi Marvin (2010, 2014, 2018) and Natalie Darwitz (2002, 2006, 2010) in being three-time Olympians.
Former Gopher associate head coach Joel Johnson will lead the coaching staff of the 2022 U.S. Women's Olympic Team, while alumna Courtney Kennedy will serve as assistant coach. In addition, Gopher women's hockey equipment manager Brent Proulx and strength coach Cal Dietz serve the U.S. Women's Olympic Team in the same capacity.
Team USA will look to defend its second-ever gold medal after defeating Canada in a shootout in the 2018 Games. Team USA and Team Finland will compete in Group A alongside Canada, Russia, and Switzerland. Team Sweden will compete in Group B alongside China, Czech Republic, Denmark, and Japan.
The Beijing Games kick off in China on Friday, Feb. 5 and will conclude Sunday, Feb. 20. Ice hockey competition, which begins today, will be held at the Wukesong Sport Center.
Gopher Olympians' Preliminary Round Schedule (TV)
Thursday, Feb. 3: Sweden vs. Japan, 2:10 a.m. CT (None)
Thursday, Feb. 3: USA vs. Finland, 7:10 a.m. CT (USA Network)
Friday, Feb. 4: Finland vs. Canada, 10:10 p.m. CT (USA Network)
Saturday, Feb. 5: Sweden vs. Czech Republic, 2:40 a.m. CT (None)
Saturday, Feb. 5: USA vs. ROC, 7:10 a.m. CT (USA Network)
Sunday, Feb. 6: USA vs. Switzerland, 7:10 a.m. CT (USA Network)
Monday, Feb. 7: Sweden vs. China, 7:10 a.m. CT (None)
Monday, Feb. 7: Finland vs. Switzerland, 7:10 a.m. CT (None)
Monday, Feb. 7: USA vs. Canada, 10:10 p.m. CT (USA Network)
Tuesday, Feb. 8: Sweden vs. Denmark, 7:10 a.m. CT (None)
Tuesday, Feb. 8: Finland vs. ROC, 7:10 a.m. CT (None)
Olympic Women's Hockey Play-Off Schedule (TV)
Friday, Feb. 11: Quarterfinals, 10:10 p.m. CT (CNBC)
Saturday, Feb. 12: Quarterfinals, 2:40 a.m. CT (None)
Sunday, Feb. 13: Semifinals, 10:10 p.m. CT (USA Network)
Monday, Feb. 14: Semifinals, 7:10 a.m. CT (USA Network)
Wednesday, Feb. 16: Bronze Medal, 5:30 a.m. CT (None) – Tape delay broadcast at 10:00 a.m. CT (USA Network)
Wednesday, Feb. 16: Gold Medal, 10:10 p.m. CT (NBC)
Be sure to follow the Gopher Olympians on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on their activities in Beijing. Head over to GopherSports.com and navigate to the 2022 Winter Olympic Landing Page for updates on all of the Olympians with ties to the University of Minnesota.
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