Twelve current and former members of the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will be representing five different national teams at the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship from April 4-12, in Harbin, China.

Five actively rostered Bulldogs, fresh off their 2008 NCAA national championship, will be temporarily trading in their UMD gear for the next two weeks. Sophomore goaltender Kim Martin, the 2008 NCAA Frozen Four's Most Outstanding Player, will man the pipes for Team Sweden, where she will be joined by sophomore forward Elin Holmlov. Two players will suit up for Team Finland, including sophomore forward captain Saara Tuominen, who also wears the \"C\" for Finland, and sophomore defenseman Heidi Pelttari. Freshman forward Iya Gavrilova will be the lone representative for Team Russia, and all five current Bulldogs playing in Harbin are 2006 Olympians.

Assistant coach and former UMD standout Caroline Ouellette will skate for Team Canada, while Julie Chu, also a current Bulldog assistant coach, will captain Team USA. Chu will be joined by former Maroon and Gold alums Jenny Potter and Jessica Koizumi representing Team USA.

Three other Bulldog alumni will take the ice for their respective national teams. Maria Rooth and Erika Holst will reunite with Martin and Holmlov for Team Sweden, while Nora Tallus will join Tuominen and Pelttari on Team Finland.

Canada is the defending champion at the IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship, having won the 2007 event that was held in Selkirk and Winnipeg, MB.