COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today the roster for the U.S. Women's National Team that will compete in the 2019 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship, April 4 to 14 at the Metro Areena in Espoo, Finland.
Seventeen of the 23 players on the roster have Olympic experience, 14 of which helped the U.S. claim gold at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, including Cayla Barnes (Eastvale, Calif.), Kacey Bellamy (Westfield, Mass.), Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights, Minn.), Dani Cameranesi (Plymouth, Minn.), Kendall Coyne Schofield (Palos Heights, Ill.), Brianna Decker (Dousman, Wis.), Megan Keller (Farmington Hills, Mich.), Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.), Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho), Kelly Pannek (Plymouth, Minn.), Emily Pfalzer (Buffalo, N.Y.), Alex Rigsby (Delafield, Wis.), Maddie Rooney (Andover, Minn.) and Lee Stecklein (Roseville, Minn.). The roster also includes 2014 Olympic silver medalists Megan Bozek (Buffalo Grove, Ill.), Alex Carpenter (North Reading, Mass.) and Shelly Picard (Taunton, Mass.).
Fourteen members of the U.S. team that claimed gold at the 2017 IIHF Women's World Championship in Plymouth, Mich., return to defend the title this year in Espoo, and six more players will make their IIHF WWC debut, including Barnes, Sydney Brodt (North Oaks, Minn.), Jesse Compher (Northbrook, Ill.), Emma Polusny (Mound, Minn.), Melissa Samoskevich (Sandy Hook, Conn.) and Hayley Scamurra (Williamsville, N.Y.). All but two members of Team USA - Polusny and Scamurra - have experience representing the U.S. at an IIHF event, however, Polusny helped the U.S. win its fourth consecutive championship at the 2018 Four Nations Cup in November, and Scamurra recently made her U.S. debut during the 2019 Rivalry Series in February.
The 23 players represent nine different states. Minnesota leads the way with seven representatives followed by Illinois, Massachusetts and Wisconsin with three apiece. California and New York each have two representatives, while Connecticut, Idaho and Michigan all have one.
USA Hockey also announced today the full staff that will support the U.S. Women's National Team in the lead-up and during the 2019 tournament. For the full staff roster, please click here.
All U.S. games were televised live on NHL Network
Games were held at Metro Areena
DATE | OPPONENT/ROUND | LOCATION | TIME (LOCAL/ET) | TELEVISION | U.S. Player of the Game |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thu., April 4 | Finland Preliminary |
Espoo, Finland | W, 6-2 | NHL Network | Kendall Coyne Schofield |
Sat., April 6 | Canada Preliminary |
Espoo, Finland | W, 3-2 | NHL Network | Dani Cameranesi |
Sun., April 7 | Switzerland Preliminary |
Espoo, Finland | W, 8-0 | NHL Network | Megan Keller |
Tue., April 9 | Russia Preliminary |
Espoo, Finland | W, 10-0 | NHL Network | Lee Stecklein |
Thu., April 11 | Japan Quarterfinals |
Espoo, Finland | W, 4-0 | NHL Network | Maddie Rooney |
Sat., April 13 | Russia Semifinals |
Espoo, Finland | W, 8-0 | NHL Network | Hilary Knight |
Sun., April 14 | Finland Gold-Medal Game |
Espoo, Finland | W, 2-1 (SO) | NHL Network | Annie Pankowski |
NOTES: Bob Corkum (Salisbury, Mass.) is serving as head coach of the 2018-19 U.S. Women's National Team, alongside assistant coaches Joel Johnson (White Bear Lake, Minn.) and Brian Pothier (New Bedford, Mass.), and goaltending coach Steve Thompson (Anchorage, Alaska)... The U.S. schedule for the 2019 IIHF Women's World Championship is available here. All games will be broadcast live in the U.S. on NHL Network ... The U.S. will conduct a training camp at the New York Islanders practice facility, the Northwell Health Ice Center in Long Island, New York, from March 26-31 in preparation for the 2019 IIHF Women's World Championship. All practices and scrimmages are open to the public and members of the media, and a complete on-ice schedule is available here... The U.S. has won the last four IIHF Women's World Championships and captured the top prize a total of eight times (2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017), including seven of the last eight tournaments... Team USA is 71-4-6-8-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L-T) in 90 career games and has outscored opponents 593-135... USA Hockey’s international council, chaired by Gavin Regan (Potsdam, N.Y.), vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams.