U represented in 2010 Olympics

The University of Minnesota men’s and women’s hockey teams each have several ambassadors to help promote the school and athletics program at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
Athletics Director Joel Maturi said he is excited for the Gophers who are representing their countries in Vancouver and that it casts a positive light upon the University.
“I think the Olympics is the ultimate sports stage,” Maturi said. “There’s no question that it provides a positive image of the University and Gopher athletics.”
Alumnae from the women’s team include Natalie Darwitz and Gigi Marvin playing for Team USA, and current Gophers freshman Noora Räty is Finland’s starting goaltender.
Gophers women’s hockey coach Brad Frost said having players compete in the Olympics elevates the visibility of the program, which can be beneficial for recruiting.
“To have them on TV for the world to see definitely helps us in our recruiting and gets the University of Minnesota’s name out there,” Frost said.
On Thursday, Räty will be faced with the task of stopping Darwitz and Marvin when Finland faces off against the high-powered U.S. women’s squad.
Team USA has won its first two games decisively, outscoring China and Russia by a combined 25-1.
“It’ll be interesting,” Frost said of the matchup. “I would anticipate Noora being very busy that night.”
Darwitz, the captain of Team USA, amassed 246 points during her decorated collegiate career, which spanned from 2002 to 2006. As a freshman, she led the Gophers in scoring and earned the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie of the Year award.
Marvin — a Warroad, Minn., native — also earned WCHA Rookie of the Year honors and helped the Gophers reach the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four in the 2008-09 season.
Frost said that sending current and former players to the Olympics is a testament to the University’s hockey program and that he takes pride in watching them compete at the international level.
“You definitely feel like you’ve had a little part of it,” Frost said.
The U.S. men’s Olympic roster features former Gophers forward Phil Kessel and defenseman Erik Johnson. Each played one season at the University before leaving for the NHL.
Kessel currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs and has 21 goals and 20 assists this season, while Johnson has appeared in 60 games for the St. Louis Blues.
“It’s an honor certainly for our program that these players have been a part of Gopher hockey before they’ve moved on … and have the opportunity to wear the USA hockey uniform,” Gophers men’s head coach Don Lucia said.
Another former Gophers athlete, Paul Martin, was also named to the team but is unable to compete due to an injury, Lucia said.
While it is an honor for any athlete to compete in the Olympics, Frost said it is especially meaningful for women hockey players who don’t have a professional league.
“I think it’s every young girl’s dream to represent their country one day,” Frost said.
Maturi said that although the primary objective of the University’s athletics department is not to cultivate professional or Olympic talent, having current and former Gophers competing at the next level is evidence that student-athletes can use the University as a springboard to higher competition.
“If there’s a recruit out there who wonders whether they can get to the next level by coming here, the answer’s pretty obviously yes,” Maturi said.