By Jared Sugerman
Lindsay Berman will begin her third year at Northeastern this fall. But first, she’ll be spending a week at summer camp.
Berman, a defenseman for the women’s hockey team, is one of 34 players invited to participate in the US Under-22 Hockey Camp, which takes place in Lake Placid, N.Y., from June 24 to July 1.
“It definitely was a goal my whole life,” said Berman, a native of Odenton, Md. “You always want to get to the national program, but I was definitely surprised when I got the e-mail. Very excited, obviously, but very surprised.”
Berman and 33 others now have a chance to earn one of 22 roster spots on the US Under-22 National Team, coached by Ohio State’s Jackie Barto, UConn’s Jaime Totten and Bemidji State’s Steve Sertich.
“I know she’s working extremely hard right now, since she got her invitation,” said Northeastern assistant coach Linda Lundigren. “She’s a kid that doesn’t take anything for granted, so she knows the invitation really is important. They’ll be impressed with her if she can play her game when she’s there.”
During her sophomore season, Berman was the sixth highest scoring defenseman in Hockey East, netting six goals and dishing out 11 assists for 17 points. Berman exhibited her versatility by playing as a forward, and she was rewarded for her contributions with Northeastern’s “Unsung Hero” award after the 2007-08 campaign.
“It’s nice to see her finally get in there, and for them to give her a chance at that level,” Lundigren said. “Definitely, with Lindsay, I think she’s always had the skill set to be at that level.”
Berman is not the only Northeastern hockey player who has been considered for a spot on her country’s Under-22 Team. Incoming freshman Sam Watt received an invitation to attend Canada’s Under-22 strength and conditioning camp in Calgary from May 28 to May 31.
Watt, who has taken part in Hockey Canada’s strength and conditioning camp before, did not attend this year’s camp due to an injury. However, she was one of 51 players asked to participate in a series of drills and tests the Canadian coaching staff uses to help shape its Under-22 National Team roster. Players who participated were also schooled in off-ice training and nutrition, and Watt, who lives in Calgary, might make up the session once her injury is healed.
“Sam is impressive and she’s got a lot of potential, and they see that and they keep her in the mix for that reason, and they keep watching her development for that reason,” Lundigren said.
Watt was a member of Canada’s 2007-08 Under-18 team, which won a silver medal at the first IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship in Calgary inJanuary.
The US and Canadian Under-22 Teams will meet for a three-game series from August 20 to August 23. The series will serve as the closing ceremonies for the Women’s National Festival in Lake Placid, N.Y., from August 12 to 23.
“If you’re a great college player and you go to the national team, guaranteed you’re going to notice that the bar is raised,” Lundigren said. “From the individual’s standpoint, and from the program’s standpoint, it obviously helps your reputation, but I think raising the bar with those individual players is what’s most important, because they’re going to come back and that’s going to transfer to the rest of the team.”
