For a few moments, even the chattiest among the throng of teen girls were struck silent at the sight of three stars of Olympic hockey. It was a special evening, a chance for girls who love to play hockey to meet Olympian and current U.S. National team member Caitlin Cahow, former Canadian Olympian Manon Rheaume and U.S. National team coach/Olympian Mark Johnson.

As progressions up the career ladder go, it’s hard to argue with goaltender Brianne McLaughlin’s circuitous path. She started in the debut recruiting class at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh as the starting goaltender, where she logged an NCAA-record 3,809 saves. Next was a call to the U.S. Women’s Under-22 Select Team Tryout in 2008. Now, she’s proud to wear the USA jersey as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team as the red, white and blue seeks a return to gold at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

When Angie Keseley began playing hockey on her backyard pond in St. Louis Park, Minn., she found herself in the nets. Today, she finds herself as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team, trying to secure a spot on the 2010 Olympic team roster.

Mark Johnson went to an Ironman triathlon in 2004 to cheer on his wife’s sister. He never imagined he would be so inspired by what he saw. Five years later, the U.S. Olympic women’s hockey coach has now completed three events, the most recent coming Sept. 13 at the Ford Ironman Wisconsin in Madison.

The intensity of the Women's National Festival was a lot for even a seasoned veteran such as Molly Engstrom, a five-time participant in the Women’s World Championships. Engstrom put in the work before the camp and it paid off with a spot on the 2009-10 U.S. Women's National Team.

Lisa Chesson doesn’t get worked up over too much. But even the even-keeled defenseman admitted there wasn’t much sleep to be had prior to the naming of the 2009-10 Women’s National Team.