The Two Minute Minor
An Edition of the Penalty Box Post
Monday, August 15th
Four current Gophers, four alumnae named to national teams for 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship in Denmark
Three Gopher representatives named to Select Teams for USA-Canada series this week; three U. of M. staff members assisting Team USA
Current (2022-2023) Gopher Women's Hockey players Josefin Bouveng, Taylor Heise, Nelli Laitinen & Grace Zumwinkle and Minnesota alumnae Hannah Brandt, Amanda Kessel, Kelly Pannek & Lee Stecklein have been selected by their respective countries' ice hockey organizations to wear their national colors at the 2022 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women's World Championship. The tournament is being held in Herning and Frederikshavn, Denmark, starting Thursday, August 25 and running through Sunday, September 4.
As reported last week, Laitinen was named to Finland's roster on August 3. Correcting our previous newsletter, this year's World Championship will mark her fourth top-level tournament appearance with the senior national team, following the 2019 & 2021 WWC and the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Bouveng was announced as a member of Team Sweden this past Thursday, August 11. This will be her first Women's World Championship appearance after she made her Olympic debut with the Swedes this past February.
Heise, Zumwinkle, Brandt, Kessel, Pannek & Stecklein were named to the Team USA roster yesterday morning (Aug. 14). Heise will be making her U.S. senior team debut after winning the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award last season as the best player in NCAA Division I women's hockey. The other five have previous WWC and Olympic experience, claiming the silver medal at the Beijing Winter Games.
Murphy, A. Potomak, Wethington named to Select/Development teams – In addition to the World Championship roster announcements, USA Hockey and Hockey Canada named their respective rosters yesterday for the head-to-head Development Series later this week. Current Gophers Abbey Murphy & Madeline Wethington were named to the U.S. Collegiate Women's Select Team, which will face Minnesota alumna Amy Potomak and the Canada Women's National Development Team. The two squads will meet at WinSport Arena in Calgary, Alberta, with games on Wednesday (8/17), Thursday (8/18), and Saturday (8/20); puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. CT all three nights. Per a note from USA Hockey, the games will be streamed on Hockey Canada's website (schedule here).
Three Minnesota staff members serving in USA Hockey roles – In addition to the player selections, three members of the U. of M. Athletics Department staff are serving in roles with USA Hockey. Cal Dietz, the strength and conditioning head coach for USA Hockey for the past several years, has been named to the staff roster for World Championship in Denmark. Minnesota Director of Hockey Operations Jessica Scott will be in Calgary to support the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team as they also play Canada in a three-game series this week. Brent Proulx, the long-time equipment manager for both the Gophers and USA Hockey, served at the recently-completed U.S. Women's National Festival.
We send congratulations and good luck wishes to all the Gopher representatives!!
Please note that Hockey Canada had not announced their World Championship roster at the time this issue of the Penalty Box Post was written. We encourage you to watch social media for any updates.
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