In March, the Polar Bears 12U Team swept the New England District Championship to advance to the National Championship Tournament. At the Nationals in Detroit, the Squirts went undefeated in round-robin play defeating Washington DC, Chelmsford MA, and Michigan and a 1-1 tie with California. In the semi-final game, solid defense and goaltending helped the Bears defeat Wisconsin 2-1. In the final game, the Bears fell to Assabet Valley MA 2-1. The Bears had previously met Assabet twice during the season defeating the 1-0 on the way to the teams RI Panthers tournament championship and losing 1-0 in double overtime in the final of the Bears Holiday Tournament.

The 19U Team lost 2-1 in the final of the US National Tournament to Belle Tire, MI. The loss ends the team’s three year reign as National Champions.

- The Polar Bear ‘86 team for capturing the Tabor Academy and La BelleTonnere tournament championships.

- The Polar Bears Squirt 2 team for being named USA Hockey’s team of the month for March 2000 for their participation in the toys for tots campaign at the Hartford Civic Center.

- Coach Elmer Laydon for being re-elected to the position of Treasurer of USA Hockey’s New England District, his appointment as Director of USA Hockey’s Girls’ Developmental Camp at the University of Vermont and being named sportsman of the year by the Central CT Referees Assoc.

Our 2000 graduates excelled academically with these results:

Heather Farrell - Ohio State University Kati Madouros- Middlebury College

Wallis Finger - Yale University Jess Ruddock - Harvard University

Katie Lafleur - Brown University Renee Taylor - Boston College

Nicole Uliaz - University of Wisconsin

Bears in the News

6 Bears named to Academic All-ECAC Team – Meaghan Cahill-Dartmouth, Jen Wiehn-Dartmouth, Alain Frankiewicz-Providence, Jackie Tamsin-Providence, Jordan Rettig-Princeton, and Colleen Coakley-St. Lawrence were named to the Academic All-ECAC Team.

4 Bears at Final National Team Tryout – USA Hockey selected Julie Chu-Choate-Rosemary Hall, Sue Merz-UNH, AJ Mleczko-Harvard, and Angela Ruggiero-Harvard among the thirty one players selected for the final tryout for the US National team that will play in the World Tournament in April, 2000.

4 Bears Compete in World U-22 Tournament – Julie Chu-Choate-Rosemary Hall, Kim Insalaco-Brown, Angela Ruggiero-Harvard, and Jess Tabb- Providence represented the United States at the World U-22 Tournament held in Fussen, Germany in December, 1999. The US Team took the Gold Medal in the tournament. Michele Amidon, a member of the original Polar Bears team of 1985-86 and the present Head Coach at Bowdoin College, served as the Assistant Coach of the team.

Ruggiero and Elkins named to All-American Team--Angela Ruggiero of Harvard and Catherine Elkins of Middlebury were named to the Women’s College Hockey All-American Team in Division 1 and Division 3, respectively.

11 Bears in ECAC Finals - The Bears were well represented at the ECAC Finals. Eleven former Bears played at Northeastern University in March, 1999. The following schools and players competed: Brown–Kim Insalaco, Courtney Johnson, Whitney Talbot; Dartmouth– Meaghan Cahill, Liz Macri, Jen Wiehn; Harvard– Jamie Hagerman, Angela Ruggiero, Pam VanReesema; Northeastern– Lisa Giovanelli, Jen Setaro. Brown defeated Dartmouth for the ECAC title.

Five Polar Bears have been selected to attend the USA Hockey Development Camp at Lake Placid, NY this Summer. USA Hockey sponsors this camp to identify future prospects for the National Team and Olympic Team.

The players are: Alana Bremiller, Julie Chu, Liza Golden, Kate Kogut, and Erica Spaeth.

Sixteen of the younger Polar Bears have been selected to participate in the USA Hockey Girls’ Developmental Camp to be held in Burlington, VT this summer. This Camp provides training and a competitive atmosphere to develop players with the potential to attend the Lake Placid Camp.

The player are: Sarah Appleton, Cassie Barbaresi, Jennie Bellonio, Alex Blackwell, Caroline Bourdeau, Kiira Dosdall, Kristin Emerick, Maggie Kennedy, Becky Kushwara, Jennifer Laydon, Tucker Marrison, Courtney Miniter, Katherine Popoff, Sarah Wilson, Gabe Worzella and Becky Zavisza.