A chance for women’s hockey players to inch closer to their Olympic dreams may become a reality. The USA Women’s Hockey National Festival is back in Lake Placid this week, hosting a tryout for U18 and college players for a chance to make the national team for their respective age groups. The competition is extensive. With over 80 players in both age groups competing for their spot and hockey experience stretching across the U.S., it creates a sense of urgency for all those involved to play their best game.”Everyone is top tier,” said U18 Women’s hockey player Taylor Senecal from Essex, Vermont. “Everyone is here to play, everyone is here to compete, and no one is here to slack off. If you slack off, you’re off the list.”Liz Keady Norton is in her first year as head coach of the U18 squad. She recognizes that everyone invited to the tryout from USA Hockey development camps across the nation is talented and says whoever stands up to the moment will have the best chance of making her roster. “It’s a big puzzle piece figuring out who fits where and what they can bring,” Norton said. “Just showing up and being able to do it under the pressure as the camp gets narrower and narrower … there a lot of great options here.”While Senecal is the closest player, others stretch as far as California. Others like Josie St. Martin from Stillwater, Minnesota, is taking in the moment practicing inside the historic 1932 Jack Shea Arena while also taking in all the pointers from coaches like Norton.”It’s just the next-level hockey skills that you may not think of when you’re back home,” St. Martin said. “You really need to be intentional with everything you are doing on the ice.”Senecal is also listening to the feedback in hopes that she can follow a similar path to Amanda Pelkey, a Montpelier, Vermont, native who was a gold medalist on the U.S.A women’s hockey team in the 2018 Winter Olympics. “I was always looking up to her from a young age,” the 16-year-old Senecal said. “It’s kind of cool to go through here shoes and go through the steps … I’ve always dreamed of this, and it’s pretty much a dream come true. Both the U18 and college teams will practice in Lake Placid for the rest of the week until Friday, Aug. 12. The rosters for both teams will be cut down to half and will represent Team U.S.A in an exhibition three-game series against Team Canada. Game one will start on Wednesday, Aug. 16. All games will be played in Lake Placid.
A chance for women’s hockey players to inch closer to their Olympic dreams may become a reality.
The USA Women’s Hockey National Festival is back in Lake Placid this week, hosting a tryout for U18 and college players for a chance to make the national team for their respective age groups.
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The competition is extensive. With over 80 players in both age groups competing for their spot and hockey experience stretching across the U.S., it creates a sense of urgency for all those involved to play their best game.
“Everyone is top tier,” said U18 Women’s hockey player Taylor Senecal from Essex, Vermont. “Everyone is here to play, everyone is here to compete, and no one is here to slack off. If you slack off, you’re off the list.”
Liz Keady Norton is in her first year as head coach of the U18 squad. She recognizes that everyone invited to the tryout from USA Hockey development camps across the nation is talented and says whoever stands up to the moment will have the best chance of making her roster.
“It’s a big puzzle piece figuring out who fits where and what they can bring,” Norton said. “Just showing up and being able to do it under the pressure as the camp gets narrower and narrower … there a lot of great options here.”
While Senecal is the closest player, others stretch as far as California. Others like Josie St. Martin from Stillwater, Minnesota, is taking in the moment practicing inside the historic 1932 Jack Shea Arena while also taking in all the pointers from coaches like Norton.
“It’s just the next-level hockey skills that you may not think of when you’re back home,” St. Martin said. “You really need to be intentional with everything you are doing on the ice.”
Senecal is also listening to the feedback in hopes that she can follow a similar path to Amanda Pelkey, a Montpelier, Vermont, native who was a gold medalist on the U.S.A women’s hockey team in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
“I was always looking up to her from a young age,” the 16-year-old Senecal said. “It’s kind of cool to go through here shoes and go through the steps … I’ve always dreamed of this, and it’s pretty much a dream come true.
Both the U18 and college teams will practice in Lake Placid for the rest of the week until Friday, Aug. 12. The rosters for both teams will be cut down to half and will represent Team U.S.A in an exhibition three-game series against Team Canada. Game one will start on Wednesday, Aug. 16. All games will be played in Lake Placid.
