Three members of the Wisconsin women’s hockey team have been selected to compete in Germany this weekend as members of the Canadian National Women’s Under-22 team.

Team Canada will play at the 2004 European Air Canada Cup in a three-game series against teams from Switzerland, Germany and Finland in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Bad Tolz, Germany.

Badgers Jackie Friesen, Meaghan Mikkelson and Bobbie-Jo Slusar were selected to the 22-member national team roster through an extensive process of player scouting. Friesen, Mikkelson and Slusar were also members of the 2003 Canadian U-22 National Team during competition in July.

The three will miss this weekend’s series against Minnesota State at the Kohl Center.

Defender Carla MacLeod, also a member of Canada’s National Under-22 team last summer, will not attend the European Air Canada Cup. She attended the final selection camp for Canada’s Women’s World Championship team last week in Calgary, Alberta.

This marks Friesen’s second trip to the European Air Canada Cup competition. Last February, Friesen joined Badger teammates MacLeod and Meghan Hunter on the U-22 National Team to play in Salzgitter and Hannover, Germany.

A UW junior, Friesen is one of the Badgers’ top scoring leaders, with 10 goals and six assists for a total of 16 points this season.

Wisconsin frosh Mikkelson and Slusar earned their first-ever national team experience with Friesen and MacLeod during Team Canada’s three-game exhibition series against the U.S. Under-22 national team in July.

This season, Mikkelson and Slusar have helped lead a strong UW rookie class. Mikkelson has scored five goals and six assists for a total of 11 points and Slusar has tallied three goals and nine assists for a total of 12 points.

– compiled by staff reports