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"It's such an awesome opportunity for those guys to get on the ice with the national team players," said Crowell, who is getting her first experience as head coach of a U.S. national team, and is the current head wom- en's ice hockey coach at Minnesota Duluth. "Being pushed to play at a faster pace, move pucks quicker and just overall be stronger and think the game faster is such a benefit for the U-18s. They also learn about leadership and what it takes to excel at that next level. I think it was very inspiring to all of the six players that were there." It didn't take long for the youngsters to see that they would need to elevate their game. For 15-year-old goalie Skylar Vetter, staring down more experienced shooters meant those lessons, like the shots she faced, came fast and furious. Fortunately, the Lakeville, Minn., native was up to the challenge. "They don't take it easy on me, especially as a goalie. They are trying to get better, like I am," said Vetter, who is also committed to attend the University of Minnesota. "It's really fun because they're all so competitive." The week allowed the younger players to grow on the ice and off it, as their experiences left a lasting impression that will carry over once they return to their respective teams. "Just seeing how these players focus for practices and lifts, it's the little details like that that that add up and make the differ- ence," said Dominique Petrie, a 17-year-old freshman at Harvard University. "For me, being able to come in and listen and learn from what they do, what they say, how they act, just shows you what the National Team and the culture is all about." Armed with this experience, these six play- ers will look to share that knowledge with their teammates as they head to Japan's northern island of Hokkaido. " Where we can help elevate each one of our teammates' game and hopefully that will lead us to winning another gold medal out in Japan this year. That's the ultimate goal," said Petrie, who captained the U.S. Under-18 Women's Select Team in a summer showcase against Canada. The interaction also provides an extra source of motivation, with players realizing that they are on the right path to get to their desired destination as a National Team contributor. "My takeaway is seeing how hard these girls work," Murphy said. "Every day to get better and push themselves, I think that's a main takeaway that I've seen and want to keep with me throughout my whole process." For National Team members, having the chance to see up close what the future of the U.S. program looks like gives them confidence that their winning tradition is in good hands. "They were all awesome," Coyne Schofield said. "The future of our program is so bright and I know there are a tremendous amount of U-18 players that are going to fill our shoes one day in such a positive way." P 30 // JANUARY 2019 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS BY Images On Ice "BEING PUSHED TO PLAY AT A FASTER PACE, MOVE PUCKS QUICKER AND JUST OVERALL BE STRONGER AND THINK THE GAME FASTER IS SUCH A BENEFIT FOR THE U-18s TO LEARN ABOUT … WHAT IT TAKES TO EXCEL AT THAT NEXT LEVEL." –MAURA CROWELL, HEAD COACH OF THE U.S. WOMEN'S UNDER-18 TEAM WAVE The Next "Being able to come in and listen and learn from what they do, what they say, how they act, just shows you what the National Team and the culture is all about." —Dominique Petrie The U.S. Under-18 Women's Team goes for its fifth straight gold medal when the IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship heads to Obihiro, Japan, Jan. 6-13. Follow all the action at TeamUSA.USAHockey.com.