Former Mercyhurst standout forwards Meghan Agosta, Vicki Bendus and Bailey Bram will represent their native Canada at the IIHF World Women’s Championship. The event runs from Saturday through April 14 in Burlington, Vt.
They earned spots on the 22-player roster during the six-day Canadian National Women’s Team selection camp, which ended Saturday. Agosta, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, led the Montreal Stars to the Canadian Women’s Hockey League this season. She also was named the league’s player of the year. Bendus, the 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner, played for the Brampton Thunder this season. Bram concluded her Mercyhurst career last month.

Kelley Steadman (Contributed/Mercyhurst College)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Co. – Junior Kelley Steadman of the No. 4/5 Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team and Girard native Jen Sch0ullis, a University of Minnesota redshirt junior forward, has been named to the preliminary roster for the U.S. Women’s National Team that will play in the 2011 IIHF World Women’s Championship, USA Hockey officials announced Friday.

Steadman is one of 30 players that will take part in a selection/training camp in Ann Arbor, Mich., from April 4-12, with the final 21-player roster set to be announced on April 9.

The camp will take place at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube, home to USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, and will feature two pre-world championship games against Canada on April 7-8.

Jen Schoullis (Contributed/University of Minnesota)

The finalized U.S. squad will then depart on April 12 for the 2011 IIHF World Women’s Championship, which runs from April 16 25 in Zurich and Winterthur, Switzerland. The preliminary roster includes 27 skaters (18 forwards, nine defensemen) and three goaltenders.

Enjoying one of her best seasons at Mercyhurst, Steadman currently ranks in a tie for third in goals (15) and sixth in points (26).

She is just two shy of tying her career-high for points in a season, set at 28 during the 2009-10 campaign.  Thanks to her play, the Lakers have rolled out to a 20-5-0 record and rank in the top-5 of both national polls. Schoullis has nine goals and 18 points in 25 games with the Golden Gophers. She missed all of the 2009-10 season with a shoulder injury.

- From Mercyhurst news release, USA Hockey, University of Minnesota

Kelley Steadman (Contributed/Mercyhurst College)

Mercyhurst College junior forward Kelley Steadman is one step away from playing for a world hockey championship.

During a telephone call Wednesday with USA Hockey and Olympic officials, Steadman learned she will participate in Team USA’s final evaluation camp for the 2011 IIHF World Women’s Championship. She will join 27 other players at the camp in April, which will include two exhibition games against Canada.

USA Hockey officials will determine the 20 players that will represent the United States at the international event, set for April 16-25 in Zurich and Winterhur, Switzerland.

“It’s definitely a dream come true. I’m pretty excited,” said Steadman, of Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Steadman earned an invitation to this camp through her play at the USA Hockey Women’s Winter Training Camp in Blaine, Minn., during Christmas break. The 40-player camp included 17 members of the U.S. National Team that won a silver medal at the Vancouver Olympics last winter.

- Victor Fernandes