Koetteritz selected to elite national developement camp by USA Hockey

When Jackie Koetteritz arrives at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y., on June 25, she will walk through the door knowing that she has been recognized as one of the best 16-year-old hockey players in America. The Summit High School sophomore, who turns 16 in two weeks, was selected this month to participate in the USA Hockey Girls’ Select 15-16 Player Development Camp.The elite, national-level development camp takes place from June 25 to July 2, featuring players from select programs across the country. “It was an honor to get picked. I wasn’t expecting to make it to nationals at all,” said Koetteritz, who is the daughter of Battle Mountain athletic director Fred Koetteritz. “It was surprising that they called.”

Koetteritz was chosen by USA Hockey coaches at the Rocky Mountain District Camp held May 6-9 in Salt Lake City. She was one of five players selected from a field of 40 girls in her age group representing Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. “Making it to the national level is a really big deal,” said Turk Montepare, a board member with Summit Hockey and father of Jeff Montepare, who went to the district camp with Koetteritz.Koetteritz’s mother, Janet Sutterly, said, “It’s beyond just a showcase program. (USA Hockey is) trying to target the best players in the country. College scouts, Olympic recruiters – they come to watch this development camp.” During the five-day camp, Koetteritz will be working with USA Hockey coaches on ice drills, scrimmages and weight room strength training and conditioning. Koetteritz began playing hockey after watching her brother play when she was younger. As she has progressed further in the development camps, she said she has been pushed by the quality of players coming from the region.

“It makes you step up – playing with people that are better than you are,” she said. “Playing under pressure makes you work a lot harder.” Koetteritz plays forward for Summit Hockey’s Under-19 girls team and was an All-Academic First Team defenseperson for the Summit High School boys varsity team in the 2003-2004 season. In January, Koetteritz was given the 2003 Chris Olbright Memorial Award, given annually to the Summit Hockey second-year Bantam player who best exemplifies sportsmanship and leadership both on and off the ice. Richard Chittick can be reached at (970) 668-3998, ext. 236 or at rchittick@summitdaily.com.