CALGARY, Alberta - Former Mercyhurst women's hockey standout Kelley Steadman has been named to the U.S. Women's National Under-22 Select Team following her performance during the USA Hockey Women's Hockey Festival in Blaine, Minnesota this past week. Steadman and the U.S. U-22 Team will take on current Laker, sophomore Shelby Bram, and the rest of Team Canada's Under-22 Development Team in a three-game series from Thursday, August 16 through Sunday, August 19.

Steadman, a native of Plattsburgh, New York, has earned a spot on Team USA's National Team after her four-year career at Mercyhurst. Last season, as a senior, Steadman enjoyed her finest campaign as a Laker, finishing with a career-best 53 points, including a team-high (and career-high) 33 goals. The 2011-12 College Hockey America Player of the Year finished her four years at Mercyhurst with 78 goals and 54 assists for 132 points.

Bram, a native of Ste. Anne, Manitoba, had a fine rookie season with the Lakers in 2011-12. She finished tied for sixth on the team in scoring with seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points. Her 21 points were second among Laker rookies, trailing only freshman defender Molly Byrne's 34 points. Her seven goals, however, led all Mercyhurst freshmen last season. Following the series, Hockey Canada scouts, along with the team's coaching staff, will continue to evaluate players with their club teams during the 2012-13 season, in preparation for selecting the Canadian team that will compete at the 2013 Meco Cup next January in Germany.

The series will begin on Thursday (August 16) at 7 p.m. (MDT). Game two is slated for Friday (August 17) at 7 p.m. and the final contest will be played at 10 a.m. on Sunday (August 19). Real-time updates from the games will be available on Twitter @usahockeyscores.