For the week of Dec 26, 2001 - Jan 1, 2002

USA women’s hockey to square off against China in Boise

Tickets still available for Jan. 26 contest

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Nothing against the Idaho Steelheads, but the USA versus China is sure to be the most prestigious game ever to hit the Bank of America Centre ice.

The US Olympic women’s hockey team will be fine-tuning its play in an exhibition match against China in Boise, 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26.

Tickets are still available for the event.

Adult prices are $19.50, $24.50 and $27.50. Junior tickets cost $17.50, $22.50 and $25.50.

Tickets are available by phone at (208) 331-8497, or on the internet at www.idahotickets.com.

Fourteen of the 25 skaters on the 2001-02 USA Hockey Women’s National Team are gold medalists from the 1998 Olympics in Nagano.

"It is a huge honor for all of the returning Olympians to be named to the team for the second time,'' said returning captain Cammi Granato, 30, of Downers Grove, Ill.

She added, "Every member of this team has worked hard since August. We are very proud to be able to represent our country, especially on home ice in Salt Lake City.''

Many team members hail from New England.

Returning with Granato are fellow forwards:

Laurie Baker, 25, of Concord, Mass.; Karyn Bye, 30, of River Falls, Wisc.; Tricia Dunn, 27, of Derry, N.H.; Katie King, 26, of Salem, N.H.; Shelley Looney, 29, of Michigan; and Jenny (Schmidgall) Potter, 22, of Eagan, Minn.

Returning U.S. gold medalist defensemen are:

Chris Bailey, 29, of Marietta, N.Y.; Sue Merz, 29, of Greenwich, Conn.; A.J. Mleczko, 26, of Nantucket, Mass.; Tara Mounsey, 23, of Concord, N.H.; and Angela Ruggiero, 21, of Simi Valley, Ca.

Back as goaltenders are Sara DeCosta, 24, of Warwick, R.I., and Sarah Tueting, 25, of Winnetka, Ill., both gold medalists.

The newcomers include six players with U.S. Women’s National Team experience:

Forwards Julie Chu, 19, of Fairfield, Conn.; Brandy Fisher, 26, of Colton, N.Y.; high-schooler Natalie Darwitz, 18, of Eagan, Minn.; Annamarie Holmes, 22, of Apple Valley, Minn.; Krissy Wendell, 20, of Brooklyn Park, Minn.; and Carisa Zaban, 24, of Glenview, Ill.

Rounding out the squad are five skaters making their first appearance on a U.S. Women’s National or Select Team:

Defensemen Courtney Kennedy, 22, of Woburn, Mass.; Nicole Uliasz, 20, of Perkasie, Pa.; and Lyndsay Wall, 16, of Churchville, N.Y.; plus forwards Andrea Kilbourne, 21, of Princeton and Saranac Lake, N.Y.; and Kathleen Kauth, 22, of Brown Univ. and Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

"After four months of training we feel we have selected a team that is going to give us the best chance to go into Salt Lake City and make a run for the gold medal," said coach Ben Smith of Gloucester, Mass.

"We have experience and skill on both sides of the puck, and after the holidays we look forward to gearing up for the next two months."

The Americans are 21-0 in pre-Olympic exhibitions and will play 10 more tuneups before the Games.

Their round-robin opponents at Salt Lake will be Germany, China, and defending bronze medalist Finland.

 

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