"This is the first year we've been practicing full time," Ruggiero said. "The pre-Olympic stakes are higher, and the Olympics are in our own country. Right now we're seeded second - we're underdogs again. But we really want to win the Gold Medal in front of our own crowd."

The Canadian national team has taken a different approach to developing its talent for the Olympics. While the U.S. Select Team is the only place for older American hockey players to compete, there is a senior women's hockey league in Canada.

The existence of the senior league means the Canadians do not have to centralize as early as the Americans. That has allowed collegiate national team players, like Botterill and Harvard teammate Tammy Shewchuk, to stay in school for the vast majority of this year.

"Both teams are improving so rapidly," Botterill said. "They're both great teams, but we have different approaches. We [Canadians] just feel players are better developing [on their own], and then when we meet up, its new, and exciting--a change of pace that builds our confidence."

Stepping Up

With Ruggiero gone for two years, the Crimson will be hard-pressed to win another national title.