Team Wisconsin will send northern Wisconsin hockey skaters Katie Detert, freshman forward from Rhinelander; Nicole Nerva, sophomore defenseman from Tomahawk; and Kelly Knetter, sophomore forward from Wausau to San Jose, Calif., to play in the USA Hockey National Championships.

Team Wisconsin is a Tier 1 hockey team governed by Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association (WAHA) that operates in the pre/post season for elite high school players. Players from all around Wisconsin try out for Team Wisconsin through a multi-level tryout process. The three northern Wisconsin girls compete against each other during the regular high school season, but put their rivalries aside to combine their select skills on Team Wisconsin.

The team became state champions in early March with a win over the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals. That win advanced the team to the Central District playoffs. Wisconsin is part of the Central District, which also consists of Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Illinois. Their Central District win over the St. Louis, Mo., Lady Blues made history and earned the team a trip to California to play at Nationals.

This is the first team in Team Wisconsin history to send a group of pucksters to USA Tier 1 Nationals. The girls will compete in pool play April 3 through 7. The top four teams in each division will advance to the quarter finals, with the Champions being crowned on Sunday, April 7.

After playing their opening game on Wednesday, April 3, the girls will attend an all-team barbecue at Sharks Ice Arena and then head off to HP Pavilion to watch the NHL San Jose Sharks take on the Minnesota Wild. The team hopes to meet with NHL Wisconsin natives Joe Pavelski, Adam Burish and Ryan Suter.