1995-96 National Women's Team

Pacific Rim Championship

Since it first fielded a national team in 1990, USA Hockey has watched its player development pool grow steadily, reflecting the ever-increasing popularity of the sport among women in the country.

The 1996 national team has had three opportunities to train together this year, including the most recent training camp held in Colorado Springs at the end of March. The final 1996 roster of 20 players was selected from this camp.

Twenty-six players attended the camp with 17 returning from the 1995 squad, seven of those were competing for a spot on their fifth consecutive national team, and an additional seven battling for their first-ever appearance.

At the helm of Team USA for the first time is head coach Julie Andeberhan, who has previously served as an assistant coach for the 1995 Women's Select Team and the 1995 Women's Select Under-18 Team. While she is a relatively new face behind the bench, Andeberhan knows what it takes to compete in the international arena - she was a member of the 1990 squad that captured a silver medal at the inaugural Women's World Championship.

Tim Gerrish, head coach of the men's ice hockey team at North Country Community College, and Jack Kirrane, a member of the gold medal-winning 1960 U.S. Olympic Team, will serve as first-time assistants for the 1996 women's team.