Moon Township, Pa. ? Jan. 27, 2009 ? Seniors Kristen Miles (London, Ontario / London Devillettes) and Brianne McLaughlin (Sheffield Village, Ohio / Ohio Flames) of the Robert Morris University women's hockey team will be among 68 potential athletes nationwide to participate in the 2009 NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge to be held at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C.  

Initially, the NCAA received nearly 140 nominations and this number was recently reduced to 68 by the NCAA, representatives from the America Hockey Coaches Association and Bauer Hockey. Only 32 student-athletes will actually participate in the event in April and this number will ultimately be decided by the NCAA selection committee by the end of February. However, the NCAA will utilize a fan-base element to help aid in the selection of the final 32 student-athletes.

Miles and McLaughlin will represent College Hockey America on the Women's West Squad and will join five other members of the CHA, including Wayne State's Melissa Boal and Sam Poyton, Mercyhurst's Valerie Chouinard, Niagara's Ashley Riggs and Syracuse's Nikki Leone.

Miles leads the team in assist with 10, while also adding 6 goals for 16 points. This year she became the Colonials all-time leading point scorer with 67.  McLaughlin has been an RMU standout since her freshman year and currently holds a .918 saving average, a 2.99 GAA and 703 total saves this season.

If McLaughlin or Miles is selected in the final 32 they will travel to Washington D.C. to take part in the challenge on Friday, April 10, 2009, which will occur between the semifinals and finals of the 2009 NCAA Men's Frozen Four.

The Colonials are off this week, but return to action on Feb. 6-7 to take on the Sacred Heart Pioneers at the Robert Morris Island Sports Center in a two game series. Both contests will begin at 7:35 p.m.