EDINA, Minn. – March 31, 2017 – The women's Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) – long a fixture on the international stage – will be represented by 46 current, incoming or former student-athletes at the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships, beginning today (March 31) and running through April 7 in Plymouth, Mich.
The 46 women with WCHA ties include representation from seven of the league's member institutions (University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State University, University of North Dakota, Ohio State University, St. Cloud State University and University of Wisconsin), competing for each of the tournament's eight participating countries (United States of America, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Finland, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland).
Fifteen (15) student-athletes played during the 2016-17 collegiate season: Maddie Rooney (Minnesota Duluth), Kelly Pannek (Minnesota) and Lee Stecklein (UMN) for the U.S.; Emily Clark (Wisconsin), Halli Krzyzaniak (North Dakota) and Sarah Potomak (UMN) for Canada; Katerina Mrázová (UMD) for the Czech Republic; Minnesota State teammates Lena Düsterhöft and Anna-Maria Fiegert for Germany; UND teammates Anna Kilponen and Emma Nuutinen for Finland; Minnesota Duluth forwards Maria Lindh and Michelle Löwenhielm for Sweden; and, Janine Alder (St. Cloud State) and Lara Stalder (UMD) for Switzerland.
A full breakdown of WCHA on-ice participation, including the 30 league alumnae competing (and one incoming freshman at St. Cloud State, German forward Laura Kluge) is below. Additionally, Minnesota Duluth alumna Caroline Ouellette is serving as an assistant coach for Team Canada.
For more information on the 2017 IIHF World Championships, visit www.2017womensworlds.com.
United States of America (Group A)
Goaltenders (2)
Alex Rigsby, Wisconsin
*Maddie Rooney, Minnesota Duluth
Defense (3)
Megan Bozek, Minnesota
Monique Lamoureux-Morando, North Dakota
*Lee Stecklein, Minnesota
Forwards (8)
Hannah Brandt, Minnesota
Brianna Decker, Wisconsin
Meghan Duggan, Wisconsin
Amanda Kessel, Minnesota
Hilary Knight, Wisconsin
Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, North Dakota
Gigi Marvin, Minnesota
*Kelly Pannek, Minnesota
Canada (Group A)
Defense (3)
Jocelyne Larocque, D, Minnesota Duluth
Meaghan Mikkelson, D, Wisconsin
*Halli Krzyzaniak, D, North Dakota
Forwards (6)
*Emily Clark, F, Wisconsin
Sarah Davis, F, Minnesota
Haley Irwin, F, Minnesota Duluth
*Sarah Potomak, F, Minnesota
Natalie Spooner, F, Ohio State
Blayre Turnbull, F, Wisconsin
Finland (Group A)
Goaltenders (2)
Noora Räty, Minnesota
Eveliina Suonpää, Minnesota Duluth
Defense (3)
Mira Jalosuo, Minnesota
*Anna Kilponen, North Dakota
Minttu Tuominen, Ohio State
Forwards (3)
Michelle Karvinen, North Dakota
*Emma Nuutinen, North Dakota
Susanna Tapani, North Dakota
Russia (Group A)
Forwards (2)
Iya Gavrilova, Minnesota Duluth
Alexandra Vafina, Minnesota Duluth
Czech Republic (Group B)
Forwards (1)
*Katerina Mrázová, Minnesota Duluth
Germany (Group B)
Goaltenders (1)
Jennifer Harss, Minnesota Duluth
Defense (3)
*Lena Düsterhöft, Minnesota State
Tanja Eisenschmid, North Dakota
*Anna-Maria Fiegert, Minnesota State
Forwards (1)
^Laura Kluge, St. Cloud State
Sweden (Group B)
Defense (3)
Johanna Fällman, North Dakota
Emilia Ramboldt (Andersson), Minnesota State
Annie Svedin, Ohio State
Forwards (3)
*Maria Lindh, F, Minnesota Duluth
*Michelle Löwenhielm, F, Minnesota Duluth
Pernilla Winberg, F, Minnesota Duluth
Switzerland (Group B)
Goaltenders (1)
*Janine Alder, St. Cloud State
Forwards (1)
*Lara Stalder, Minnesota Duluth
* - Played in WCHA in 2016-17
^ - Incoming freshman for 2017-18