My name is Kathleen Kauth and I am a member of the US Womens National Ice Hockey Team. Some of you guys may remember me from when I came down to Houston last April to work a hockey clinic. You all really made an impact on me. So much so that I would like to keep in touch and help you guys with your own hockey plans, ideas, problems, or whatever youd like. In fact, I would like to help you with any questions you may have about anything having to do with being a female student athlete, including high school or college decisions that you may need to make.
I just want to let you guys know a bit about me. I grew up in Saratoga Springs, NY where I began playing hockey at the age of 6. Growing up there, I played hockey, soccer and lacrosse for most of the time while also attending public school in Saratoga. I stopped playing hockey with the boys my sophomore year in high school. I joined a team up in Lake Placid, NY, which is almost 2 hours from my house. It was difficult traveling that far just for hockey, but it was worth it. In 1997, I went to Brown University and played on the hockey team for four years. I was captain for my last 2 years and we were National Runners-Up twice. I graduated in 2001 with a degree in Biology/Premed.
Over the summer of 2001 I trained for the Olympic Team tryouts in August. I made that team of 25 women, the first National Team I ever made. Unfortunately, they had to cut the team down to 20 before the Olympics, and I was one of those cut. That was very hard, but I am back at it again. I took last year off for graduate school at Boston University, which I just finished. Just this past August, though, there was a tryout for the Four Nations Tournament in Sweden, which I made. The tournament included Sweden, Finland, Canada, and of course us, the US. We won the championship game against Canada in overtime sudden death shootout, which was incredibly exciting. We also just had a camp over Christmas out in Colorado Springs, which was basically the tryout for the World Championship team in April. We should find out who is on the team by the end of January Now that school is over, I am moving up to Canada to play for the Brampton Thunder of the NWHL.
Enough about me. Hopefully we can use our connection to start a column over the internet that will allow us to stay in touch and help each other. As it turns out, I also learn a lot from you all. I can write a monthly column updating you on what is up with me and you guys can write back with any questions you may have. I hope to hear from you guys soon.
Kathleen
Future columns will be posted on the TAHA website: www.tahahockey.org
Players can write to Kathleen at:
