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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Dartmouth forward Sarah Parsons (Dover, Mass.) and Harvard defenseman Caitlin Cahow (Branford, Conn.) are among 20 players named to the 2008 U.S. Women's National Team, USA Hockey announced. The squad, which also includes former Harvard standouts Angela Ruggiero and Julie Chu, will compete in the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship from April 4-12, in Harbin, China.

The roster includes seven Olympians, 13 returnees from the 2007 U.S. Women's National Team and seven newcomers to world-championship competition.

"We are excited about the potential of the team," said Jackie Barto, head coach of the 2008 U.S. Women's National Team and also the head women's ice hockey coach at The Ohio State University. "This team combines experience with youthful enthusiasm and we feel like we've got the right mix headed into the world championship."

Three-time U.S. Olympians Ruggiero (Harper Woods, Mich./Minnesota Whitecaps) and Jenny Potter (Edina, Minn./Minnesota Whitecaps), along with two-time Olympians Chu (Fairfield, Conn./Minnesota Whitecaps) and Natalie Darwitz (Eagan, Minn./Minnesota Whitecaps) highlight the U.S. roster. The other three Olympians include Cahow and Molly Engstrom (Siren, Wis./Brampton-Canadette Thunder), along with Parsons.

In addition to the seven Olympians, six others competed in last year's world championship, including forwards Meghan Duggan (Danvers, Mass./University of Wisconsin), Hilary Knight (Hanover, N.H./University of Wisconsin), Erika Lawler (Fitchburg, Mass./University of Wisconsin) and Gigi Marvin (Warroad, Minn./University of Minnesota); defenseman Kerry Weiland (Palmer, Alaska/Vaughan Flames); and goaltender Jessie Vetter (Cottage Grove, Wis/University of Wisconsin.).

Of the seven newcomers, defensemen Kacey Bellamy (Westfield, Mass./University of New Hampshire) and Rachael Drazan (Orono, Minn./University of Minnesota) have experience at the Four Nations Cup, while two of the four forwards - Jessica Koizumi (Simi Valley, Calif./Minnesota Whitecaps) and Karen Thatcher (Douglas, Mass./Vaughan Flames) - have also competed in the Four Nations Cup. The remaining two forwards - Sam Faber (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./University of New Hampshire) and Kelli Stack (Brooklyn Heights, Ohio/Boston College) - and the other goaltender - Molly Schaus (Natick, Mass./Boston College) - have played for the United States at the Under-22 level.

Team USA will open competition in the 2008 IIHF World Women's Championship on Friday, April 4, against Germany.