For the majority of players representing the U.S. and Canada at the recent Women’s Under-22 Series, the three-game summer slate provided something more: the chance to earn bragging rights within their college locker rooms.

In total, 17 players on Team USA squared off against current college teammates in Calgary, Alberta, from Aug. 17-20.

For Kelly Pannek, who was one of four U.S. players from the University of Minnesota that lined up against fellow Golden Gophers Lindsay Agnew and Sarah Potomak, the friendly banter began as soon as the rosters were announced.

“Sarah texted all of the Team USA Gophers right away,” Pannek said. “We were all excited to play against each other and the little jokes throughout made the series fun. I had the opportunity to matchup with her for a few face offs and there may have been some small, lighthearted jabs thrown both ways.”

Similar to other U.S. players facing college teammates, excitement was also rampant throughout the Badger contingent, which was comprised of U.S. forwards Annie Pankowski and Sophia Shaver, along with Team Canada’s Sarah Nurse and Emily Clark.

“I had actually been training with Sarah all summer,” Pankowski explained. “All of us are really good friends and we looked at making our teams as a reward for all of the hard work we put in.”

Pankowski described the delicate balance between wanting to see her friends have success and thinking of them as opponents in Calgary.

“There was a moment where we all flipped a switch and simply said ‘see you on the ice’,” Pankowski said. “I always joked that I was a huge Sarah Nurse and Emily Clark fan, but just not a Team Canada fan.”

All jokes aside, Pannek valued her experience playing with Potomak in preparation for the competition.

“It was definitely a unique transition from playing with Sarah to remembering her tendencies and looking at her as an opponent,” Pannek said. “At the end of the day, we still had to stop her. I tried to remember what I could about her game to make sure I was prepared.”

Looking within the U.S. locker room, Pankowski said she couldn’t help thinking “what if” as she was playing alongside some of her college rivals.  

“I kept thinking to myself: is this what it would have been like to have attended college with them?,” Pankowski explained. “It’s always fun to play with different players and see who you mesh well with. It was also very easy for all of us put aside college rivalries and be all-in on one goal as a united Team USA.”

Finally, Pannek believes having such high-intensity competition on their summer calendars gives them a jump start on feeling prepared and motivated for the upcoming college season.

“Both the (Women’s National) Festival and U22-Series do a great job of ramping up a player’s intensity level,” Pannek explained. “I found myself in better shape throughout the summer because I knew I had to prepare for extremely competitive hockey. Also, being around really talented players motivates you to keep pushing and finding ways to get just 1% better everyday.”