USA women’s hockey camp returns to Olympic Center in Lake Placid
The camp consists of the top college and U18 players from around the country
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. —
Olympic history is continuing to be built in Lake Placid, New York.
The USA women’s national hockey program’s camp is back for another year on the ice in the Olympic Village.
“We’re working towards getting that next edge and pushing the envelope in terms of where this program can get to,” said U.S. women’s hockey head coach John Wroblewski.
For decades, Lake Placid has hosted the next wave of talent for the red, white and blue. The camp consists of the top college and U18 players from around the country.
“The launch of the women’s program was right here in Lake Placid in the early 90s. The national team would come here year-round and train,” vice president of the Olympic Center, Chadd Cassidy, said. “That led them to their first world championship in the early 90s and kind of springboarded them into the power that they are today.”
That power was on full display this past winter in Italy as the women’s national team took home gold for the third time ever.
Now, it’s about improving to continue that success.
“If you’re not improving, then you’re volatile to exposure. We won’t repeat, we won’t be what we want to be if we don’t continue to improve,” Wroblewski said. “Not just the national team, but the channels towards the national team, and that starts behind me right now with the under 18 program and the U23 team.”
For the players competing, coming into a golden opportunity can be special.
“Try to build up to that gold medal mentality, which is so cool to have. That just happened this year and coming in behind that,” Lauren Zawoyski from Minnesota State University said. “Just getting invited here is just a huge honor, and once you step on the rink, it’s just such cool history here.”
It’s also a little bit of different motivation.
“My whole life, I’ve grown up watching all those girls play in the Olympics. So, it’s kind of cool to be my age now and just get to see it happen,” Mercury Bischoff from Minnesota State University said. “Then to give them a gold medal, it’s like, OK, so now it’s my turn next. Like, I can do this. All these girls are great here, and I know that’s what’s coming up next for them.”
The camp will continue scrimmages on Friday and then wrap up with practices on Saturday and Sunday.
Twenty-five-player rosters for both age levels will be named at the conclusion of camp. Both teams will face Canada in a three-game series on Aug. 12-15 in Richmond, British Columbia.