Cahow, Parsons and Resor Named to U.S. Select Team

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Harvard defenseman Caitlin Cahow Branford, Conn.), Dartmouth forward Sarah Parsons (Dover, Mass.) and Yale defenseman Helen Resor (Greenwich, Conn.) have been named to the 22-player U.S. Women's Select Team that will compete in the Women's Four Nations Cup in Leksand, Sweden, from Nov. 7-11. USA Hockey announced the roster today.

The League trio is joined by three former League standouts--Julie Chu (Fairfield, Conn.) of Harvard, the 2007 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner; former Dartmouth forward Kristin King (Piqua, Ohio); and Princeton alum Megan Van Beusekom (Loretto, Minn.).

Highlighting the U.S. contingency are eight Olympians, including three-time Olympian Jenny Potter (Edina, Minn.) and two-timers Chu and Natalie Darwitz (Eagan, Minn.).

In addition, Potter, Chu and Darwitz are among 14 returnees from the 2007 U.S. Women's National Team that captured the silver medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship in Winnipeg and Selkirk, Man.

"I think we have a very good mix of experience and youth on the team with good, strong leadership," said Jackie Barto, head coach for Team USA and also head women's ice hockey coach at The Ohio State University. "I'm excited about the team we're taking over to Sweden and look forward to the opportunity to see them play against great competition from Canada, Sweden and Finland."

"The Women's National Festival and Under-22 Series provided a strong starting point to the 2007-08 season," said Michele Amidon, director of women's hockey operations for USA Hockey. "Our core group of players is gaining more experience with each event and the Four Nations Cup will be a great start to an exciting year of competition."

In total, the eight-member defensive corps includes four Olympians - Cahow, Chu, Molly Engstrom (Siren, Wis.) and Resor. In addition, Cahow, Chu, Engstrom, Resor and Kerry Weiland (Palmer, Alaska) all competed for Team USA at the 2007 IIHF World Women's Championship last April.

Of Team USA's 12 forwards, four are Olympic veterans, including Darwitz, King, Parsons and Potter. Meanwhile, in addition to the aforementioned quartet, Meghan Duggan (Danvers, Mass.), Erika Lawler (Fitchburg, Mass.), Gigi Marvin (Warroad, Minn.) and Jinelle Zaugg (Eagle River, Wis.) return from the 2007 U.S. Women's National Team.

In net, the United States boasts Jessie Vetter (Cottage Grove, Wis.) and Van Beusekom, both of whom have experience in World Championships, but have yet to play in a Four Nations event.

Team USA will open competition at the Women's Four Nations Cup on Wednesday, Nov. 7, when it takes on host Sweden.