Dec. 30, 2011
Tournament Central
ZLIN, Czech Republic (December 30, 2011) – University of Connecticut women’s ice hockey coach Heather Linstad will temporarily be away from her team as she stands behind the bench at the International Ice Hockey Federation U-18 Women’s World Championship in the Czech Republic. Linstad was named the head coach of Team USA in June and is joined on the bench by Northeastern and Minnesota assistants Hilary Witt and Joel Johnson.
Team USA opens the preliminary round Saturday, December 31 against Russia at 5:00 pm local time at the PSG Arena in Zlin. Linstad and her team have prepared for the World Championship since this summer by taking part in the USA Hockey Women’s National Festival as well as a three game series against Canada.
“I am very excited about working with the most talented young athlete in the USA,” stated Linstad. “I thought the camp in August as well as the three game exhibition series against Canada was great preparation for the World Championships.”
Joining Team USA and Russia in Group A is the host Czech Republic and Sweden. The United States faces off with Sweden on January 1 and the Czech Republic on January 3. Group B, which is comprised of Canada, Finland, Germany and Switzerland, will compete at Zimni Stadium in Prerov.
The top three teams from each group will enter the championship stage of the tournament, with the winner of each group receiving a bye to the semifinals. The gold medal game will be played at 7:00 pm local time on Saturday, January 7 in Zlin.
“Our goal is to repeat as champions,” said Linstad. The United States defeated Canada for the gold medal at the 2011 championship in Stockholm, Sweden and has won three of the last four dating back to 2008. “[It’s] not an easy task, but we have an experienced group with seven returnees from last year’s team and a lot of great new talent. I think the team chemistry and work ethic of these athletes will be the reason for our success.”
Linstad’s experience with Team USA Hockey stretches back the last decade and a half. She coached at the USA National Hockey Festival in Lake Placid, N.Y. five times and has participated as a coach at the USA Hockey Junior Development Camp, while also taking part in the USA Rocky Mountain District camp.
On having the chance to coach Team USA at the World Championship Linstad said, “I am certainly honored to be representing USA Hockey as the head coach. It is an exciting opportunity. An opportunity I think I have worked hard to achieve.”
