Former Buckeye Lisa Chesson Selected to 2010 U.S. Olympic Team – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Chesson first Ohio State women’s hockey player to represent United States in Winter Games
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Lisa Chesson, a defenseman for the Ohio State women’s hockey team from 2005-08, has been named to the U.S. Olympic Women’s Team, USA Hockey announced in a ceremony Thursday in Bloomington, Minn.
The 21-member team was introduced by Michele Amidon, general manager of 2010 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team, and Mark Johnson, head coach of the team, during an event at the Mall of America.
“We are very excited Lisa is part of 2010 U.S. Olympic Team,” Jackie Barto, in her 11th season as head coach of the Ohio State women’s hockey team, said. “She was worked very hard with her training and development to accomplish this goal. We are excited to watch her and Team USA reach for gold in Vancouver.”
Chesson was part of the 23-member U.S. Women’s National Team named at the end of August. The team has been training in Blaine, Minn., and preparing for the upcoming Olympic Games by playing against various women’s collegiate hockey teams, college conference all-star teams and two meetings with archrival Canada as part of the Qwest Tour. Team USA also won the silver medal at the 2009 Four Nations Cup hosted by Finland in November.
A native of Plainfield, Ill., Chesson participated in the Team USA’s residency program during 2008-09 also in Blaine and was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2009 IIHF World Women’s Championships last April. She also played in the silver medal-winning U.S. Women’s Select Team at the 2007 Four Nations Cup.
Chesson served as an assistant captain for the Buckeyes in 2007-08 and picked up her third All-WCHA honor of her career, being named to the second team after previous back-to-back third-team nods. She completed her career with 89 points to stand ninth all-time in the OSU record books and fourth in defenseman scoring. She totaled 27 goals and 62 assists in her four seasons and ranks seventh in power play points with 47.
The U.S. Olympic Women’s Hockey Team has medaled in all three Olympic appearances to date (gold-1998, silver-2002, bronze-2006). The squad has six Olympic veterans, including Jenny Potter and Angela Ruggiero, who will both be playing in their fourth Games in Vancouver.
Team USA, which includes three goaltenders, six defensemen and 12 forwards, will continue competing in the Qwest Tour until departing for the Olympics Feb. 7. The opening ceremonies are slated for Feb. 12, with Team USA’s first game taking place Feb. 14 against China.
NOTE: The equipment manager for the U.S. Women’s Olympic Team will be Jim Jeans, equipment manager for the Ohio State women’s hockey team. This is his first Olympics after serving as equipment manager for various U.S. Women’s National and Select Teams over the last three years. Jeans has been equipment manager for the Buckeyes since the 2005-06 season.
