Tiger skates in Olympics

Princeton NJ -- When the U.S. women's hockey team skates onto the ice for the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City this month, a Tiger will be in the lineup.

Andrea Kilbourne, who completed three seasons on Princeton's team before taking a break from school to join the national team, is on the 20-player roster.

Andrea Kilbourne

Kilbourne, one of the most prolific scorers in recent Princeton history, is one of three skaters making their first appearance on the U.S. national team. She led the Tigers in scoring in each of the past three seasons and finished 2000-01 with 49 points (22 goals and 27 assists). She was a second-team All-ECAC and All-Ivy selection. The team's captain in 2000-01, the Saranac Lake, N.Y., resident was to serve again in that capacity this year.

"The most amazing part of this whole experience has been being able to represent my country, especially at such an important time," Kilbourne said. "To see people all over the country get excited about our team is something really special. Although it is a huge responsibility, it is also an enormous honor."

The U.S. women's ice hockey team is the defending Olympic gold medalist, but has fallen to Canada in the last three world championship finals. The U.S. team will play its first game in a preliminary round against Germany on Feb. 12.