Players Mentioned
St. Cloud State’s Alder named to Swiss Olympic Team
1/22/2018 7:03:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Sophomore goaltender is the first Olympian in the Huskies’ 20-year history
ST. CLOUD—In a historic first for the St. Cloud State women's hockey program, sophomore goaltender Janine Alder has been named to Switzerland's women's hockey roster for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation announced Monday.
Alder, who is making her second Olympic appearance, is the first Olympian in the Huskies women's hockey team's 20-year history. She will suit up for her homeland and defend its 2014 bronze medal February 9-25 in Pyeonchang, South Korea.
"I was holding my phone all morning," Alder said. "I am so happy and so excited that I made it."
The Zurich, Switzerland, native is seasoned performer on the international stage. In addition to winning a bronze in Sochi, Alder and Switzerland placed seventh and sixth at the 2017 and 2015 IIHF World Championships, respectively. She also appeared in the 2012 IIHF U18 World Championship and the 2013 IIHF U18 Div. I World Championship, in which she led all goaltenders with a 0.71 goals-against average and a .970 save percentage.
Over winter break, Alder started two games for Switzerland split between a Four Nations Tournament in the Czech Republic and the 2018 Nations Cup in Fussen Germany and recorded shutouts on both occasions—performances she believes put her over the top towards earning a roster spot.
"It was a key moment," Alder said. "I told myself those were my last two chances. I knew it was a good chance to show what I can do."
The milestone of being the first Olympian in program history is not lost on Alder. She called SCSU a "great program" and is looking forward to carrying its torch into South Korea.
"Janine is a special kid and a special player," head coach Eric Rud said. "She really deserves everything that she has gotten so far and we are certainly very proud of her."
"It is great for her and great for our program," he added. "If we can show people that we have the type of program that develops kids for the next level it is a great feather in our cap."
After garnering All-WCHA Rookie Team honors last season, Alder has picked up right where she left off in her second season at St. Cloud State. She boasts a .935 save percentage in 13 games played this season, which ranks third in the WCHA and sixth in the NCAA.
"She took a chance to come over here and trust that we were her best opportunity to get back on the Olympic team," Rud said. "She knew for her to come here and have chance to make the Olympics she had to make a splash and she has done that."
"Her experience in college hockey certainly prepared her for a chance to play in the Olympics."
Alder joins SCSU men's hockey junior defenseman Will Borgen and alumni forward Garrett Roe as Huskies headed to the Olympics. To date, St. Cloud State is the only NCAA hockey program sending both a current men's and women's student athlete to South Korea.
Switzerland, which is currently ranked No. 6 in the world by the IIHF, will compete in Group B in Pyeongchang against Sweden, Japan and host South Korea. It opens the women's hockey tournament on Saturday, February 10 against South Korea. The Swiss round out group play against Japan on Monday, February 12 against Japan and Wednesday, February 14 against Sweden.
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