Just in case the 2008 NCAA national title wasn’t enough, the University of Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey team has announced two signings declaring their intent to remain in the championship hunt for the 2008-2009 season.

The Bulldogs have inked forward Pernilla Winberg and defenseman Jenni Asserholt from Team Sweden, two players with a wealth of experience at the international level, and both who were silver medalists with Sweden during the 2006 Olympic games.

“We are fortunate to have landed these two recruits from the Swedish National Team, as every school in the country was recruiting them,” said head coach Shannon Miller. \"Jenni is a very solid and hardworking defenseman, while Pernilla is an experienced, explosive goal scorer. These additions add talent and experience to the great young team we have already.”

Winberg, perhaps best known in the United States as the player who scored the winning goal in the shootout against Team USA during the 2006 Olympics semi-final game, hails from Limhamn, Sweden. The forward, who was Sweden’s youngest national team player during the last Olympics, has been a pillar on her national squad since the 2002-2003 season. She tallied a goal and three assists in five outings while in Turin in 2006, and has helped Team Sweden win two bronze medals in the IHIF World Championships (2005 and 2007), including leading Sweden with five goals in 2007.

Asserholt, a Team Sweden assistant captain, is a product of Orebro, Sweden. The defenseman has been on the Swedish blueline since the 2003, and like Winberg, has earned an Olympic silver medal and two World Championship bronzes (2005 and 2007). She has suited up in 81 games for Team Sweden in her career and picked up 50 minutes worth of penalties during 2007-2008 for Sweden in 16 skates.



(All signings are contingent upon admission to UMD, and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Clearinghouse).