BLOOMINGTON, United Stages – Among the 21 players named to the 2010 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team are six Olympic veterans, including Jenny Potter and Angela Ruggiero, who will both be playing in their fourth Olympic Games in Vancouver.

The U.S. team, which includes three goaltenders, six defensemen and 12 forwards, will continue competing in the Qwest Tour until departing for the Olympics on February 7. The opening ceremonies are slated for Feb. 12, with Team USA’s first game taking place on Feb. 14 against China.

The team was selected from the 23 players who made up the 2009-10 U.S. Women's National Team. The group has been training in Blaine, Minnesota, at the National Sports Center's Schwan Super Rink since early September, in addition to competing on the Qwest Tour and in two international tournaments.

“It's an exciting day for a lot of reasons,” said head coach Mark Johnson. “It was an extremely tough decision, but now we can move forward and continue preparing ourselves. We feel good about the process, which gave everyone an opportunity. We're excited by the youthfulness of our team, as well as comfortable with the veterans and the leadership they will provide.”

“We have 57 days to go before the opening ceremonies of the Olympics,” said General Manager Michele Amidon. “We're enthusiastic and confident that we have the best 21 players to help us achieve our goal of winning the gold medal.”

The four additional players with Olympic experience on the U.S. roster are two-time Olympians Julie Chu and Natalie Darwitz, as well as 2006 Olympians Caitlin Cahow and Molly Engstrom. Of the 21 players, all but one have competed in an IIHF World Women's Championship, including 19 who captured a gold medal last April to propel the United States to the number one in the IIHF Women’s World Ranking.

Hilary Knight is the youngest U.S. player at 20 years old, thus marking the first time that a U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team will not include a teenager at the Games. Knight, who currently leads the National Team with 21 points (9-12) in 16 games, is just nine days younger than Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux, who will become the first set of twins ever to play hockey for the United States in the Olympics.

The U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team has medaled in all three Olympic appearances to date (gold-1998, silver-2002, bronze-2006) and won the last two World Women’s Championships in 2008 and 2009.

Roster Highlights:

• 6 Olympians
• 19 World Champions
• 19 returnees from the 2009 U.S. Women's National Team
• 10 members of the 2008-09 U.S. Women's Select Team
• 8 players who have competed in the Western Women's Hockey League
• 11 NCAA Division I players (2008-09)
• 10 participants in the 2009 NCAA tournament
• 9 NCAA national champions
• 7 participants in the 2009 NCAA Women's Frozen Four
• 4 winners of the 2009 NCAA National Championship
• 3 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recipients

2010 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team

Goalkeepers: Brianne McLaughlin (Robert Morris University, CHA), Molly Schaus (Boston College, HEA), Jessie Vetter (University of Wisconsin, WCHA).

Defencemen: Kacey Bellamy (University of New Hampshire, HEA), Caitlin Cahow (Harvard University, ECACH), Lisa Chesson (Ohio State University, WCHA), Molly Engstrom (University of Wisconsin, WCHA), Angela Ruggiero (Harvard University, ECACH), Kerry Weiland (University of Wisconsin, WCHA).

Forwards: Julie Chu (Harvard University, ECACH), Natalie Darwitz (University of Minnesota, WCHA), Meghan Duggan (University of Wisconsin, WCHA), Hilary Knight (University of Wisconsin, WCHA), Jocelyne Lamoureux (University of North Dakota, WCHA), Monique Lamoureux (University of North Dakota, WCHA), Erika Lawler (University of Wisconsin, WCHA), Gigi Marvin (University of Minnesota, WCHA), Jenny Potter (University of Minnesota Duluth, WCHA), Kelli Stack (Boston College, HEA), Karen Thatcher (Providence College, HEA), Jinelle Zaugg-Siergiej (University of Wisconsin, WCHA).