Moon Township, Pa. – July 9, 2009 - Recent graduate Brianne McLaughlin (Sheffield Village, Ohio / Ohio Flames) of the Robert Morris University women's ice hockey team will continue her hockey career by participating in the 2009 USA Hockey Women's National Festival on August 18-24 in Blaine, Minn. A total of 41 athletes will compete at the festival, which will serve as a selection camp for the 2009-10 U.S. Women's National Team that will compete in the Qwest Tour.

The Qwest Tour consists of 10 games that begin on Sept. 25 and will end just before the start of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C. A total of 21 players that make the U.S. National team will go on to compete in the Olympic Winter Games.

McLaughlin will face some tough competition at the camp, as nine Olympians will be contending for another appearance at the Olympic Games. Jenny Potter and Angela Ruggiero represent the most experienced athletes at the camp, as they have already competed in three Olympics. In addition, all 21 members of the U.S. Women's National Team that captured gold at the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship will participate in the Festival.

However, McLaughlin has a lot of experience under her belt as she was a member of the U.S. U-22 National Team last year and was a participant in the 2009 Frozen Four Skills Challenge. In addition, this past year she became the NCAA Division I All-Time Career Saves Leader with 3,809 and was named to the All-CHA First Team. Her résumé includes three USCHO.com National Defensive Player of the Week honors, 12 CHA Defensive Player of the Week awards and four consecutive years on the All-CHA team.

On Aug. 24, USA Hockey will announce the roster for the 2009-10 USA Women's National Team and in mid-December the 21 players who will compete in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be announced.