Two University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey players -- Ève Gascon and Caitlin Kraemer -- were named to the Canadian Women's National Team's Rivalry Series roster Monday to face the host United States in the first two games of the series Thursday in Cleveland, Ohio and Saturday in Buffalo, New York.

Thursday will mark Kraemer's national team debut, and the sophomore center also holds the distinction as the second-youngest player on the team of 25.  Kraemer currently has recorded 12 points on eight goals and four assists in 10 games -- a 1.20 points per game average -- and ranks in a tie for the third most game-winning goals so far this season (three). The native of Waterloo, Ontario has three times has posted two or more points this season in those 10 outings.

Gascon, who has already earned two WCHA weekly awards and was named to the Preaseon All-WCHA Team before the season even started, already has three shutouts this season and six wins in 10 games. The junior from Mascouche, Quebec has played 560:53 minutes and made 263 saves over that span for a 26.3 saves per game average -- which includes two games with over 45 saves. Gascon made her national team debut this past March at the IIHF World Championships where she earned a silver medal with Canada.

The Canadian duo will skate against another former Bulldog -- All-American and current start of the PWHL's Ottawa Charge has been named to the U.S. Rivalry roster for this weekend.

Gascon and Kraemer -- who missed UMD's series at St. Cloud State University while at Canada camp -- are expected to return the Bulldogs after the series this weekend and play against the University of St. Thomas next weekend.