“It felt great hitting the ice today. Everyone was so fired up to be out there,” Katie Lachapelle (Lewiston, Maine), head coach of the 2023 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team said. “First and foremost, we’re looking to come together as a team and then making sure we’re hitting all the little details that we need to make sure we’re going to be hitting our stride next week.”
Seven players return for the U.S. from the 2022 squad that dropped a heart-breaking 3-2 decision to Canada in the gold medal game. Goaltender Annelies Bergmann (Detroit, Mich.), defender Molly Jordan (Berlin, Conn.) and forwards Cassie Hall (South Lyon, Mich.), Ava Lindsay (Minnetonka, Minn.), Finley McCarthy (Whitefish, Mont.), Maggie Scannell (Wynantskill, N.Y.) and Josie St. Martin (Stillwater, Minn.) all bring an added perspective and experience that will help elevate the 2023 team both on and off the ice.
“It’s huge with the experience that they have,” Lachapelle said. “It is a little bit different for us playing this tournament on the road as opposed to it being in the United States last year. It’ll be a great new experience for us all, but they’re bringing everyone along. They know how important it is for this team to bond as a group right away and are on top of everything, making sure everyone is ready to go.”
The team has a week in Sundsvall, Sweden as part of its pre-camp, culminating in a pre-tournament game against the host country, before heading to Östersund for the championship.
“This team plays with real speed and a bit more toughness than what we’ve seen in the past,” Lachapelle concluded. “As this tournament continues on, this team will continue to gel, play together and make plays.”
