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Barnes Readies for U18 Championships After Key Year

12/22/2015, 4:00pm MST
By Dan Scifo - Special to USAHockey.com

Cayla Barnes is one of seven players back from last year’s U18 world championship squad.

​Cayla Barnes admitted that 2014 was the most important year of her hockey career to this point. It set the stage for a rock-solid 2015 campaign within the USA Hockey program, which in turn prepped her for another big year with the national program.

“That year [2014] was really important and crucial,” Barnes said. “You learn so much, and I think what I learned most is that you know your role on the team, you do what’s expected of you and you do it to the best of your ability.

“It wasn’t just the memories and how much better of a hockey player I became, but how much better of a person I was. Overall that year was incredibly important and changed my life.”

As the calendar flips to 2016, Barnes is looking for more, including a second straight gold medal for the U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team next month in St. Catharines, Ontario.

“I’m so excited, I think about it every day,” said Barnes, who has a countdown on her phone. “I’m just looking forward to getting with the girls, playing together and having this experience.”

Barnes is one of seven players on this year’s team who helped the 2015 squad earn the program’s fourth gold medal on home ice at last year’s tournament in Buffalo, N.Y.

That was her first season on the U.S. U18 team. She returns a leader, excited for the opportunity to help this year’s first-time players create unforgettable experiences and tournament memories.

“It was indescribable and amazing in every way,” Barnes said of last year’s tournament. “Our team had such a close bond, and I think that was one of my favorite parts. We won the gold medal and that’s an experience I’ll never forget, but we made so many friendships and we were so close.”

Barnes was the youngest player on the team, turning 16 during the tournament. She admits it wasn’t easy as a first-year player.

“There’s a lot of pressure because you have to perform,” Barnes said. “It was really good once I got there because the older girls took me under their wing. Once you get there, you feel like part of the team.”

It’s a little easier for Barnes the second time around.

“It’s definitely less nerve-wracking,” Barnes said. “The first time, you’re really nervous going in because you don’t know what the atmosphere is going to be like.

“Now you know what’s coming at you and you know what it takes to be at this level, so you’re more confident all around.”

The USA Hockey program helped her growth.

Barnes attended a player development camp in 2013 and was a Women’s National Festival invitee the following year. She also made the U.S. Women’s U18 Select Team for the U18 series before her time on the gold medal-winning national U18 team.

Another year of development camps, National Festivals and a second stint on the U18 Select Team has only helped.

“I’ve learned so much, it’s unbelievable,” Barnes said. “You play with world-class coaches and world-class teammates, so you’re always learning and getting better.

“When I got home, everything was at that level. You could tell everything was more sharp and advanced.”

Barnes, a native of Corona, California, played for the LA Selects, West Coast Selects, Junior Kings and Anaheim Lady Ducks growing up. She moved to the east coast to play at New Hampton and with the East Coast Wizards and is currently committed to Boston College.

USA Hockey has also played an instrumental role to get Barnes to this point.

“When you go to camp and play with these high-caliber players, you learn so much from coaches and players every day,” Barnes said. “Every day you step on the ice and they’re making you better.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.

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U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team Blanks Germany, 11-0

01/07/2009, 11:30am MST
By U18 Women's World Champs

FUSSEN, Germany – Eight different players scored and Madison Packer (Birmingham, Mich.) and Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.) each accounted for three points, as the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team blanked host Germany, 11-0, here tonight at the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's U18 Championship at the Fussen Arena.

With the victory, Team USA holds a 2-0-0-0 record (W-OTW-OTL-L) heading into tomorrow night's (Jan. 7) third and final preliminary-round game against Sweden at 7:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. EST).

"Overall, having played back-to-back games, we executed some good plays," said Team USA Head Coach Mark Johnson, who is also the head women's ice hockey coach at the University of Wisconsin. "The competition will get tougher starting tomorrow against Sweden - we've played two good games, but now we'll have the opportunity to really make some strides."

The U.S. squad opened the game by netting four goals in the first 20 minutes of play. AfterLyndsey Fry (Chandler, Ariz.) potted her third goal of the tournament to give Team USA an early 1-0 lead at 2:50, Kessel doubled the U.S. lead when she stole the puck during a German two-man advantage, skated the length of the ice, switched to her backhand in front of the net and put a shot above goalie Janna Ramajzl's stick side at 6:20.

The score went to 3-0 at 10:48, as Packer found Brittany Ammerman (River Vale, N.J.) at the top of the crease for a quick dump in. Ammerman then found the back of the net again at 14:38, this time after Megan Bozek (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) brought the puck in from center ice and took a hard shot from the left-side goal line. Bozek's rebound found its way to Ammerman, who tapped it in from the right post.

The Americans increased their lead to 9-0 with five more goals in the middle frame, starting with a pair of tallies 10 seconds apart in the first minute of play. Taylor Wasylk(Port Huron, Mich.) opened the period scoring at :45, followed 10 seconds later by Packer's second of the outing on a backhand shot. Caroline Campbell (Fordland, Mo.) was next to score for the United States, finding the top left corner with a slap shot from the right point at 11:08. Fry scored a second of her own at 13:26, as she put one between the legs of new German netminder Jule Flotgen. Jackie Young (Medford, Mass.) closed out the stanza with a power-play sniper from the top of the right faceoff circle to make it 9-0.

Wasylk and Brianna Decker (Dousman, Wis.) capped off the scoring in the third period at 8:30 and 13:17, respectively, to account for the 11-0 final score.

Corinne Boyles (Wheaton, Ill.) made eight saves to earn the shutout victory in net for Team USA.

NOTES: Taylor Wasylk was named U.S. Player of the Game ... Team USA out shot Germany, 73-8 ... The United States went 1-for-6 on the power play, while Germany was 0-for-3 ... Amanda Kessel leads the tournament with nine points (4-5) in two games.Madison Packer ranks second with seven points (2-5) ... Joining Mark Johnson on the coaching staff as assistant coaches are Katie King, head women’s ice hockey coach at Boston College, and Jeff Giesen, head women’s ice hockey coach at St. Cloud State University.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

USA 4 5 2 -- 11
GER 0 0 0 -- 0

First Period - Scoring: 1, USA, Fry (unassisted), 2:50; 2, USA, Kessel (unassisted), 6:20 (3x5sh); 3, USA, Ammerman (Packer), 10:48; 4, USA, Ammerman (Bozek), 14:38. Penalties: GER, Rothemund (hooking), 3:23; USA, Packer (tripping), 5:03; USA, Pelkey (hooking), 5:47; GER, Anwander (hooking), 6:47; GER, Weisser (tripping), 17:33.

Second Period - Scoring: 5, USA, Wasylk (unassisted), :45; 6, USA, Packer (unassisted), :55; 7, USA, Campbell (Dempsey), 11:08; 8, USA, Fry (unassisted), 13:26 (4x4); 9, USA, Young (Kessel), 18:19 (pp). Penalties: USA, Decker (body checking), 13:05; GER, Eisenschmid (body checking), 13:05; USA, Brock (slashing), 13:52; GER, Strohmaier (interference), 17:34.

Third Period - Scoring: 10, USA, Wasylk (Kessel), 8:30; 11, USA, Decker (Packer), 13:17. Penalties: USA, Campbell (tripping), 3:53; USA, Fry (delay of game), 5:52; GER, Pokopec (tripping), 16:46; USA, Packer (slashing), 17:08; GER, Novotny (interference), 17:58.

Shots by Period 1 2 3 Total
USA 22 31 20 73
GER 3 2 3 8       

Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
USA, Boyles, 60:00 3-3 2-2 3-3 8-8
GER, Ramajzl, 24:28 22-18 7-5 x-x 29-23
GER, Flotgen, 35:32 x-x 24-21 20-18 44-39

Power Play: USA 1-6; GER 0-5
Penalties: USA 7-14; GER 7-14
Officials: Referee-Marie Picavet (FRA); Linesmen-Annika Floeden (SWE), Evelyn Loretan (SUI)

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