TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer women's hockey alumnae Alexa Gruschow (2012-16) and Jordan Smelker (2010-14) have been named to Team NWHL, the squad representing the National Women's Hockey League in games against the U.S. Olympic Team next month. Team NWHL will face the U.S. Olympic Team in games on Jan. 13 and 15 at the U.S. team's training complex at Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, Florida. These exhibition games will be the final tune-ups for Team USA in preparation for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeong Chang, South Korea. Start times for the games are 6:15 pm on Saturday, Jan. 13 and 2:15 pm on Monday, Jan. 15.
 
Of the 14 Division I programs represented, RPI is one of four institutions with more than one player on the roster. ECAC Hockey foe Harvard registers the most players with four followed by Boston College and Wisconsin with three apiece.
 
Gruschow, a forward for the undefeated, first place Metropolitan Riveters (7-0), currently leads the NWHL in scoring and goals this season. The Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania native is 7-6-13 over seven games.
 
"I am honored and appreciative to be selected to represent Team NWHL in Florida," said Gruschow. "It will be an exciting experience for the players, the fans, the sport, and everyone involved. I am glad that we were presented with this unique opportunity, and I know that we will enjoy it and show the fans some good games. Hopefully, we can help Team USA get in some last-minute preparation before they depart for the Olympics. It will be a special moment to be able to personally wish Team USA good luck before they head out to win the gold. It will be fun to see some familiar faces that played in the NWHL last year and catch up with friends."
 
Gruschow earned numerous awards throughout her RPI career, including the team's Most Valuable Player following the 2015-16 season. She was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team in 2012-13 as well as the team Rookie of the Year. A multiple ECAC Hockey All-Academic selection, the Biology major was a multiple Dean's List honoree.
 
Over the course of her four year career, Gruschow was 48-47-93. The forward ranks ninth in RPI career history in points and tenth in goals. A captain her senior year, Gruschow led the Engineers in scoring all four years of her tenure, including a 27 point season her rookie campaign (13 goals, 14 assists).
 
Smelker a three year forward for the Boston Pride (2-5), has posted is 13-16-29 over 38 games in her career. The Anchorage, Alaska native competed in the 2015 Four Nations Cup for the U.S. Women's National Team in Sweden. Additionally, Smelker spent the 2014-15 season with the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL), posting eight goals and seven assists for 15 points in 22 games. Compiling a +17 rating, she had one power play and two game-winning tallies. She also had one assist during the Blades Clarkson Cup Championship.  A former Team Alaska 19U standout, Smelker has been invited to multiple USA Hockey camps throughout her career, including the USA Hockey Women's National Festival, in 2015 and the National Team Selection Camp in 2013. She was also a participant in the 2012 U.S. Women's National Team Winter Camp in Minnesota. 
 
"I was not expecting to get the call so I was really excited when I found out," said Smelker. "I'm grateful that I get to participate in the event. As we all know, the Olympics are only every four years, so this kind of opportunity doesn't present itself very often."
 
Smelker earned numerous awards throughout her RPI career, including the team's Most Valuable Player following the 2013-14 season. She was named the team Rookie of the Year in 2010-11 as well as the team's Bob Conway Scholar-Athlete Award in 2011-12. A multiple ECAC Hockey All-Academic selection, the Biomedical Engineering major was a multiple Dean's List honoree.
 
Over the course of her four year career, Smelker was 34-52-86. The forward ranks eighth in RPI career history in assists and eleventh in points. A captain her senior year, Smelker was a top two team scorer for the Engineers, including a 23 point season her sophomore campaign (10 goals, 16 assists).
 
Team NWHL GM Hayley Moore selected the team in consultation with the coaches of all four NWHL clubs. The team will be led by Riveters head coach Chad Wiseman, with assistance from Boston coaches Thomas Poeck and Lindsay Berman.
 
"We are incredibly excited about this experience for our players, and we're very proud to play this important role in USA Hockey's preparation for the Olympics," said Team NWHL GM Hayley Moore. "These players have all earned their opportunity in the spotlight. They will be representing the entire NWHL. The depth in our league is so strong that many players were considered for spots on this roster, but we feel confident the group we've assembled will offer excellent competition to Team USA."