PLAYERS AND STAFF ARRIVE
The players and staff arrived in Wesley Chapel, Florida, throughout the day yesterday (Dec. 28) to kick off pre-camp ahead of the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship, which runs January 6-13 in Dmitrov, Russia. The U.S. enters the competition as the three-time defending gold medalist, having earned gold in last year in Prerov & Zlin, Czech Repubic, 2016 in St. Catharines, Ontario and 2015 in Buffalo, N.Y.

FLORIDA HOSPITAL CENTER ICE 
The team conducted its first on-ice session this morning at Florida Hospital Center Ice, where the 2017-18 U.S. Women’s National Team has been training since August ahead of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

The National Team, which joined the U18 squad for lunch this afternoon, won three preliminary-round games over Finland, Canada and Sweden at this venue before topping Canada, 5-2, to take home the 2017 Four Nations Cup crown back in November.

The facility includes four full-size ice sheets, a mini rink and a fitness center, among other amenities.

SKATING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND
Players and staff watched the U.S. National Junior Team earn a 4-3 shootout victory over Canada at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York, in what was the first-ever outdoor game in IIHF world-championship play. Team USA, which now holds a 1-1-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record at World Juniors, closes preliminary-round play against Finland on Sunday (Dec. 31) at 4 p.m. ET.

Team Update #1