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PSU's Cassie Dunne Chosen for the 2017 U.S. National University Women's Hockey Team

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Penn State senior Cassie Dunne (second from left) was picked to travel to Kazakhstan for the World University Games tournament

Penn State senior Cassie Dunne has been named to the final roster for the 2017 U.S. National University Women's Hockey Team, which will compete at the World University Games in Almaty, Kazakhstan from January 28th through February 8th.

Dunne, a defenseman who skates for Penn State's American Collegiate Hockey Association squad and is the club's president in addition to serving as an alternate captain, is the seventh Penn State women's player chosen to wear her country's jersey since 2011, when the U.S. began sending a women's team to the biennial event. PSU is one of just two schools (Michigan State is the other) to place at least one player on each of the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017 national university teams.

Her selection came following an evaluation camp held in Woodridge, IL and Wentzville, MO from December 28th through December 31th, which included games against the prestigious Chicago Mission 19-and-under team and Lindenwood University's NCAA Division I team. Despite the caliber of the competition and her heavy usage during the contests (generally, the Wyndmoor, PA native played on Team USA's second d-pairing in addition to receiving lots of special teams time, primarily on the penalty kill), Dunne was not on the ice for a single even strength goal against in either game. Nine defensemen were among the 28 players invited to the camp, with six of the blueliners making the cut down to 21.

"I can sum up my experience at camp with two adjectives: intense and amazing," Dunne said. "On and off the ice my experience was one to remember; the girls, the coaches and the rest of the Team USA staff are talented, amazing people.

"The level of play at camp was intense, fast paced and so much fun. It's hard to put into words the feeling you get when you're on the ice with your teammates and your passes are connecting, your making plays and each player is fighting h ard - but it's a feeling you'll remember for the rest of your life."

Following a January 25th departure, Team USA - which is coached by 1998 Olympic gold medalist Shelley Looney - will open the WUGgroup stage against Russia, the tournament's defending gold medal winners, at 1:30 a.m. ET on January 28th. Next comes Japan, which won bronze in 2015, on January 31st at 9:00 a.m. ET. Should the U.S. finish in the top two of their three-team pool, it will advance to the semifinals on February 4th, with the gold and bronze medal games following on February 6th. If Team USA finishes third in the group, it will enter a round robin with the third and fourth place teams from the opposite group to determine fifth, sixth and seventh place. Canada, China, Great Britain and hosting Kazakhstan are the four squads on the other side and will represent most of the red, white and blue's opposition following the Japan game under either scenario.

All games will be played in Almaty's Baluan Sholak Sports Palace, a 5000-seat venue built in 1967 but extensively renovated six years ago.

Despite the fact that Team USA is stocked with ACHA club players who are often up against Olympians and other senior national team players from opposing countries, Dunne is hoping to repeat - or even better - the performance of Team USA at the 2013 World University Games when 2014 Penn State graduate and starting goalie Katie (Vaughan) Pucci led the squad to a bronze medal. In 2011, the U.S. finished fourth, and the 2015 WUG saw a fifth-place finish.

"[The evaluation camp] was our first time paying with each other but the intensity, skill and connection I saw between my teammates truly excites me for what is to come in Kazakhstan," Dunne said. "We have a lot of potential and we will definitely go far at the Games. I am honored to be selected for the United States Women's National University Team, to put on the jersey again and to fight with my teammates to win the gold medal at the World University Games."

Video coverage for the games is still to be determined, although in the past most Team USA games have been carried on the United States WUG delegation's Ustream page, with select games and daily highlight packages on the International University Sports Federation website and YouTube channel. USA Hockey Twitter accounts will announce score updates, with game recaps and other information available on USAH's website for the event. The Penn State Women's Ice Hockey Club will also offer Twitter updates and game recaps with a Dunne-centric slant, and more general information about the tournament can also be found on the 2017 Winter World University Games website.

World University Games Schedule

Date
Game
Time (ET)
Sat. Jan. 28
Canada-China (Group A)
5:30 a.m.
Sat. Jan. 28
Kazakhstan-Great Britain (Group A)
9:00 a.m.
Sun. Jan. 29
USA-Russia (Group B)
1:30 a.m.
Mon. Jan. 30
Canada-Great Britain (Group A)
5:30 a.m.
Mon. Jan. 30
China-Kazakhstan (Group A)
9:00 a.m.
Tues. Jan. 31
Japan-USA (Group B)
9:00 a.m.
Wed. Feb. 1
Great Britain-China (Group A)
5:30 a.m.
Wed. Feb. 1
Kazakhstan-Canada (Group A)
9:00 a.m.
Thur. Feb. 2
Russia-Japan (Group B)
9:00 a.m.
Fri. Feb. 3
Placement Game 1
9:00 a.m.
Sat. Feb. 4
Semifinal 1
5:30 a.m.
Sat. Feb. 4
Semifinal 2
9:00 a.m.
Sun. Feb. 5
Placement Game 2
2:00 a.m.
Mon. Feb. 6
Placement Game 3
2:00 a.m.
Mon. Feb. 6
Bronze-Medal Game
5:30 a.m.
Mon. Feb. 6
Gold-Medal Game
9:00 a.m.

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