CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A trio of former Harvard All-America skaters have been selected to attend the 2009 USA Hockey Women's National Festival, which will take place Aug. 18-24 in Blaine, Minn., USA Hockey announced this week.

Caitlin Cahow '07-08, Julie Chu '06-07 and Angela Ruggiero '02-04 are among the 41 players who will participate at the festival, which will serve as the selection for the 2009-10 U.S. Women's National Team. The national squad will compete in the Qwest Tour that begins Sept. 25 and ends prior to the start of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C.

On Aug. 24, USA Hockey will announce the roster for the 2009-10 U.S. Women's National Team. In December, the 21 players that will compete for the U.S. at the 2010 Olympics will be announced.

Cahow, Chu and Ruggiero helped Team USA capture the gold medal at the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Women's Championship in April.

Ruggiero, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner in 2004 and a four-time All-American, is vying four her fourth Olympic appearance and has gold, silver and bronze medals to her credit. Chu, meanwhile, is attempting to make her third Olympic team, having won the silver in 2002 and the bronze in 2006. Chu was named the recipient of the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2007, was a three-time All-America honoree and is the leading scorer in NCAA history with 284 points on 88 goals and 196 assists. Cahow, an All-America selection in 2008, captured the bronze medal with Team USA in 2006.

Photo courtsey of USAHockey.