Kentwell Announces Women’s FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup Team

LIÈGE, Belgium – Following a series of training sessions and a Final Selection Camp at the end of December, U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team Head Coach Jun Kentwell selected the following roster to represent the USA at the 2022 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup (IHWC).

Abby Burnett (Zionsville, Pa.), Ali Campbell (Boyertown, Pa.), Samantha Carlino (Kennett Square, Pa.), Ryleigh Heck (Berlin, N.J.), Laura Hurff (Newark, Del.), Alaina McVeigh (Lansdale, Pa.), Madison Orsi (Downingtown, Pa.), Madison Maguire (Rumson, N.J.), Daniela Mendez-Trendler (Reisterstown, Md.), Hope Rose (Dauphin, Pa.), Ashley Sessa (Schwenksville, Pa.), Kylie Walbert (Leesburg, Va.), Rayne Wright (Bethlehem, Pa.)

The two non-traveling reserves were goalkeeper Sierra Espeland (Fredericksburg, Va.) and Caroline Ramsey (Morristown, N.J.).

Six athletes and one reserve who represented USA at the 2021 Indoor Pan American Cup (IPAC) were named to the roster. It was led by Hope Rose (Dauphin, Pa.), IPAC Top Scorer of the Tournament, and Ashley Sessa (Schwenksville, Pa.), IPAC Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. Defensively, returning goalkeeper Samantha Carlino (Kennett Square, Pa.) was set to lead the charge giving direction to veteran Ali Campbell (Boyertown, Pa.), most capped women’s indoor athlete at 44, and Rayne Wright (Bethlehem, Pa.).

Unfortunately, the announcement was made today by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) canceling the 2022 IHWC, that was set to take place February 2 to 6 in Liège, Belgium.

“This is a very sad day for our athletes who have worked so hard and dedicated themselves over the past months to prepare to represent the USA in one of the FIH’s premier world events, the Indoor World Cup,” said Kentwell, after the cancelation announcement. “The squad selected is a balance of experience and talented new young players who were getting their first opportunity to perform on the world stage. The core of the team has a very bright future. As always we are preparing the players to play at the highest level, and I am sure we will see many of them representing our country at junior or senior level outdoor events in the near future”.

Kentwell was set to lead the squad and Sebastian Blink and Pat Harris were going to serve as the assistants, with Richard Kentwell as the team manager, Gabriel Lee as the video analyst and Aaron Finer as the physiotherapist.

In their first-ever appearance at the IHWC in 2018, USA finished tenth.