U.S. women’s hockey team roster is set for Sochi Olympic Games

Some of the names read on Wednesday when the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey roster was announced should sound familiar: Forward Alex Carpenter is the daughter of former NHL standout Bobby Carpenter, and forward Amanda Kessel is the sister of Toronto Maple Leafs winger Phil Kessel.

Many other names will became more familiar in February, when the Americans pursue their fifth consecutive Olympic hockey medal but first gold since the inaugural women’s Olympic tournament in 1998.

The 21-player roster, announced during the second intermission of the NHL’s Winter Classic game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium, includes 11 players who have played in previous Olympics and 21 who have played in women’s world championship tournaments.

The most experienced player is Julie Chu of Fairfield, Conn., who is poised to appear in her fourth Olympics at nearly 32. Here’s a link to USA Hockey’s news release and the full roster.

The captain will be Meghan Duggan of Danvers, Mass. During an interview on NBC after the team’s selection she called her selection as captain “an incredible honor” and said the team’s mix of veterans and youth should provide the right blend of savvy, speed and enthusiasm. “We got the right group,” she said.

The group does not include forward Anne Pankowski of Laguna Hills, who was one of the last roster cuts.

Kessel has missed the entire pre-Sochi Olympic tour because of a lower-body injury. However, she won a national championship at the University of Minnesota and scored the winner in Team USA’s gold-medal game against Canada at the last world championships.

Her brother, Phil, was waiting to hear his name called as a member of the U.S. men’s team. That announcement was to be made after the Winter Classic.

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