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t 's an understate- ment to say the players in the U. S. Women's Nationa l Team Program miss being on the ice together. The pandemic has present- ed cha llenges for this tight- k nit group that hasn't been in the same zip code since Febr uar y. With the upcoming season and the 2022 Winter Olympics fast approaching, coaches and staff members have looked for creative solutions to get everyone togeth- er while physically being apart. For four days in August, experienced veterans and wide- eyed hopefuls got together for a series of virtual sessions aimed at further developing team chemistry and cohesiveness on and off the ice. For some, the content present- ed by coaches, trainers and staff served as a refresher, while for others it provided new insights on what it takes to make the grade. Bob Corkum, head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team, opened the sessions by laying the foundation for the team's on-ice strategy by using footage from the 2020 Rivalry Series games against Canada. "This is something we are going to build on with every thing that we do from here on out, right towards the Olympics," Corkum said. " W hen we're playing our best hockey, we're doing these things instinctively." The next call featured Tiffany Jones, the team's mental skills coach, talking about how to remain present during moments of pressure. That's particularly important when the game is on the line at the Olympics. The third session was designed to put players to sleep, literally, as team phy- sician Dr. A lly Howe offered tips to optimize sleep with suggestions to sleep in cooler temperatures, eliminate light and not use electronic devices too close to bedtime. "Sleep is the single most important recovery tool that you have," Howe said. "The three pillars of athleticism are diet, exercise and sleep. If you are not taking care of all three, you are not actually meeting your full potential." Carrie Aprik and Shelly Johnson, the team nutrition- ists, took that message a step further with a presentation on eating for peak performance and recovery before switching gears with a live cooking show on how to make a well-balanced buddha bowl. The series wrapped up with Cal Dietz, the team's head strength and conditioning coach, talking about exercises each athlete could include in their training routines to reduce the risk of injury, especially as they become more active after the quarantine. "It was a great week where we were able to focus and expand on the pillars of our program," said Kacey Bellamy, a two-time Olympian and alternate team cap- tain. "It's always impactful when we can come together as a group to learn, collaborate and strength- en our culture as a whole." P Mae Divinski is a manager of communications for USA Hockey. I Staying Close From A Social Distance U.S. Women's Team Looks To Strengthen Bonds While Focusing On The Future OCTOBER 2020 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 9 WOMEN By Mae Divinski k U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach Bob Corkum meets with his players during a virtual call during the summer. PHOTO BY Mae Divinski ,