Jan. 16, 2008

Calgary, Alberta - The U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team captured the first-ever gold medal awarded at the inaugural 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's U-18 Championship with a 5-2 victory over Canada. Providence College women's ice hockey Head Coach Bob Deraney helped lead Team USA to the victory, as he was an assistsant coach for the team. Also on the team are future Friars Kate Bacon (Chanhassen, Minn.) and Ashley Cottrell (Sterling Heights, Mich.).

Team USA used a balanced attack to beat the Canadians, as five different skaters notched goals in the gold medal game. Cottrell finished the tournament as Team USA's third leading scorer, with ten points (five goals and five assists) in five games played. Bacon added three goals in five games played for Team USA as well.

About the experience of winning the championship, Coach Deraney said, "The memory of this experience will last a life time. It was similar to winning the first ever Women's Hockey East Championship in that there is only one first time. That was special and the feeling was the same winning the inaugural IIHF U-18 World Championship. You don't know what to expect but I have to say representing your country in the World Championship is great but to top it off by winning the Gold Medal ended up exceeding all my expectations. That was how I felt in 2003 after winning the inaugural Hockey East Championship and that was how I felt again last Saturday. I was extremely proud of what we accomplished and that I was able represent my country and Providence College. I was also proud of the way in which two of our future players, Kate and Ashley represented our country and began to represent Providence College. They played great from start to finish, were terrific teammates and major contributors to Team USA's success."

Deraney and the Friars return to conference action this weekend with two Hockey East games. On Saturday, January 19 the Friars will travel to Durham to face No. 1 New Hampshire at 2:00 p.m. at UNH's Whittemore Center. Then the Friars will host Boston University for a 2:00 p.m. game at Schneider Arena on Sunday, January 20.