Mleczko Skates On

Although the Harvard men's and women's hockey teams both lost in the quarterfinals of their respective ECAC tournaments, sophomore forward A.J. Mleczko of the women's team hasn't hung up her skates yet.

Mleczko was recently named to the 1995 United States Women's National Team, which will compete April 3-8 in the 1995 International Ice Hockey Federation Pacific Women's Hockey Championships. The four team competition between the United States, China, Canada and Japan will be held in San Jose, California, at the home rink of the San Jose Sharks.

"I'm obviously really excited," Mleczko said. "I've always dreamed about it in the back of my mind, but I didn't think it'd happen while I was still in college. This was really a surprise."

Mleczko's selection came after an informal tryout March 10-12 as part of the U.S. Select Team that competed against Russia and Team Quebec in Lake Placid, New York.

The U.S. Select Team defeated the Russian national squad, 7-0, and tied its Canadian foe, 4-4. Seven players from the U.S. Select squad, including Mleczko, were selected to the National Team.

Mleczko, the youngest member of the U.S. National Team at 19, joins former Harvard standout Sandra Whyte '92 on the twenty-member National squad. The team includes only one other college player, senior Stephanie O'Sullivan of Providence College.

Mleczko leaves for San Jose March 27th for a week of practice before facing off in competition.

Despite the honor, Mleczko still sees a hard road ahead of her.

"This tryout doesn't really mean anything for the World Championships [which will be held in 1996 at Nagano, Japan, the site of the 1998 winter Olympics]," Mleczko said. "I'll have to try out again over the summer for that team."

Being named to the U.S. National Team caps a banner year for Mleczko, who led the Crimson to a 12-11-2 record, an ECAC quarterfinal berth and the 1995 Beanpot Championship.

This year, the 1994 ECAC and Ivy League Rookie of the Year also set the Crimson record for most goals in a season with 34--three better than the goal record she had set her freshman year.

Mleckzo's exploits earned her First Team All-Ivy League honors and should put her in the running for ECAC awards, which have yet to be announced.