Coaching Staff Named for 2009-10 U.S. Womens National Under-18 Program

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Katie King, three-time Olympian and head women's ice hockey coach at Boston College, will serve as head coach of the 2009-10 U.S. Women's National Under-18 Program. Meanwhile, Shelley Looney, two-time Olympian and girls'/women's hockey director for the New Jersey Colonials, and Catherine Hanson, former U.S. Women's National team member and assistant women's ice hockey coach at The Ohio State University, will serve as assistant coaches.

The trio will guide the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Program during the 2009-10 season. The season culminates with the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's U18 Championship, which will be held for the first time in the U.S. from March 27-April 3 at a location to be announced. Team USA will look to capture its third straight world title at the event.

The season includes a training/try-out camp in Blaine, Minn., which runs from August 17-21, and the 2009 Women's Under-18 Series, a three-game competition against Canada in Calgary, Alta., from August 24-27. In addition, a pre-tournament camp will be held prior to the start of the world championship (date/location TBA).

King most recently served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Program during the 2008-09 season, during which time Team USA defended its world title at the 2009 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship. Prior to that, she was an assistant coach for the U.S. Women's Under-22 Select Team for the 2006 Women's Under-22 Series.

In 2008-09, her second season at the helm of the Boston College women's ice hockey team, King led the Eagles to a second-place finish in Hockey East, as well as an NCAA tournament appearance. Prior to being named the head coach, King served four years as an assistant coach for the Eagles.

King played for the U.S. Women's National Program from 1997-2006 and is Team USA's all-time leading Olympic scorer with 23 points (14-9) in three Olympic Games, as well as the second most prolific scorer in program history with 265 points (146-119) in 210 career games. She helped the U.S. to one gold medal and five silvers in six IIHF World Women's Championships throughout her career.

Looney, who played for Team USA from 1992-2005, including at both the 1998 and 2002 Olympic Winter Games, is currently in her third year as the girls'/women's hockey director for the New Jersey Colonials youth hockey organization. She previously served as an assistant coach for the University of Vermont women's ice hockey team (2004-05), as well as the U.S. National Under-17 Team within USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (2003-04).

Hansen, who played for the U.S. Women's National Program from 1998-2000, recently completed her seventh season as an assistant coach at Ohio State, where she was responsible for the team's defense. Prior to joining the Buckeye staff, she spent time as an assistant coach at Wayne State University (2001-02) and Colgate University (1999-2000). In addition, she has served as a coach at USA Hockey Girls Select Player Development Camps since 2002.