Players Mentioned
SCSU goalies earn invitations to USA Hockey National Team Goalie Camp
5/8/2018 11:33:00 AM | Women's Hockey
A pair of goaltenders with ties to the St. Cloud State University women's hockey program have been selected to participate in the 2018 U.S. Women's National Team Goaltending Camp, which is being held at the Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine, Minn. on May 11-13.
Current SCSU goalie Emma Polusny (Mound, Minn.), who recently completed her freshman season with the Huskies in 2017-18 is one of 18 athletes participating in the camp in Blaine, Minn. She will be joined by former SCSU goalie Katie Fitzgerald, who played for the Huskies from 2012 to 2016.
Polusny garnered both 2017-18 All-WCHA Third Team and All-WCHA Rookie Team honors during her first campaign with the Huskies. She set a new team record with four shutouts this season, while posting a 2.20 GAA and .934 save percentage. Poulsny had 605 saves for the Huskies in 1179:49 minutes of play.
"Emma (Polusny) had a tremendous freshman season for us and it is a great honor for her to be selected to participate in this camp," SCSU head coach Eric Rud said. "Our hope is that all of our athletes aspire to one day play for their respective national teams and attending this camps will help Emma get one step closer to that goal."
Fitzgerald currently plays pro hockey with the Metropolitan Riveters and recently completed her second season in the NWHL as an Isobel Cup champion and the MVP of the playoffs.Â
"This is an awesome opportunity and I'm so excited to be part of it," said Fitzgerald. "Getting to play pro hockey after college has extended my career and led to so many great things, so I'll proudly represent the NWHL at USA Hockey's camp."
After being named NWHL Goaltender of the Year in her rookie season, in 2016-17, the 24-year-old Fitzgerald had an even better year in the Riveters' Isobel Cup campaign. The 5-11 goalie from Des Plains, Ill. was 12-3-0 with a 1.87 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in the regular season. She had shutouts in both playoff games to lead her team to the Isobel Cup. A two-time NWHL all-star, the former standout from St. Cloud State was also a member of Team NWHL when it played a two-game series against Team USA in Tampa, prior to the Olympic Team heading to Pyeongchang for the Olympics.
At SCSU, Fitzgerald made 2,209 saves and had four shutouts during her college career. She ranks among SCSU's top five goalies with a career 3.06 GAA and a .908 save rate.
"We are so pleased that Katie has earned this invitation," said NWHL Deputy Commissioner Hayley Moore. "This is a testament to Katie's incredible work ethic, commitment to improving her game, and her personal development in the NWHL in the past couple of years. She has emerged and proven herself to be a game-changing goaltender in our league.Â
"The Team NWHL series in January was an excellent opportunity for Katie to display what she's capable of at the National Team level. She certainly turned heads with her performance in Florida, as well as through her stretch as the 2018 Isobel Cup MVP."
The National Goalie Development Camp takes place in Blaine, Minn. from May 10-13. The camp is led by Matt Kelly, the former collegiate goalie and assistant coach at Clarkson who is now the Head Scout for the U.S. Women's National Team.
"USA Hockey's support and collaboration in player development has been an integral part of this opportunity," said Moore. "We look forward to cheering Katie on and celebrating her success."
In 2015, USA Hockey launched the U.S. Women's National Team Goaltending Development Camp to aid the growth of goaltenders who are eligible for international competition with the National Team and the Under-18 National Team. The camp is designed to help each player improve and prefect all physical and mental aspects of the position.
USA Hockey Goaltender Camp Roster
USA Hockey Goaltender Camp Story
