The University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will lose the services of two Olympians once the 2010-11 reason comes to a close, but the Bulldogs are already adding some olympic experience to their 2011-12 class.
Head coach Shannon Miller announced the first players of the rookie class of 2011-12 Monday, a group of five players who have signed letters of intent to play for the Bulldogs during the 2011-12 season. Highlighting a crew that already has a wealth of international experience is Isabelle Jordansson from Team Sweden, who played in the 2010 WInter Olympics. Joining Jordansson will be be Tea Villila (Team Finland), Zoe Hickel (Team USA U18), Bridgette Lacquette (Team Canada U18) and Jenna McParland (Team Canada U18).
Jordansson, a forward from Stockholm, Sweden, currently plays for MODO and dished out three assists last February for Sweden in Vancouver. Jordansson logged almost 58 minutes of playing time in five olympic outings.
Hickel, a 5'6 forward from Anchorage, Alaska, was a center on the Team USA U18 squad that won a silver medal at the 2010 World Championships. Hickel, who currently resides at the North American Hockey Academy, also played for the Red, White, and Blue in the USA vs. Canada series earlier this fall.
McParland, who like current Bulldog Haley Irwin hails from Thunder Bay, Ontario, will round out the forwards for the early signing period. McParland plays for the Toronto Aeros and played for Team Canada in the 2009 U18 World Championships.
Villila is a Team Finland member from Hyvinkaa, FInland. A blueliner that played four games in the Four Nations Cup just this past fall with an assist, Villila currently suits up for HPK Hameenlinna and like four of her five future teammates, played in the U18 World Championships.
Lacquette is a defenseman from Waterhen, Manitoba, who plays for the University of Manitoba, and suited up for Team Canada in the U18 World Championship this past spring. Lacquette recorded the second most points in the tournament with two goals and nine assists for 11 points.
