COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- USA Hockey will announce the roster of its 2006 Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team at a formal ceremony in the Rotunda at the Mall of America on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 1 p.m. CST.

The event, which is open to the public and free of charge, will include an appearance by the 20 players who will compete for the United States at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy.

We are pleased to bring this high-profile event to 'the state of hockey' and to the Mall of America, a facility that is acclaimed world wide," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey.

Following the announcement and ceremony, members of the team will sign autographs for fans in Sears Court on the main level of the Mall.

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The U.S. Women's National Team is currently in the midst of the Hilton Family Skate to 2006 Tour, a 10-city, 11-game schedule featuring pre-Olympic competition against the national teams from Finland and Canada as well as collegiate all-star teams. The next contest, between the United States and Canada, is slated for Nov. 27 (Sun.) at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

The Olympic Winter Games begin for the U.S. Women's Olympic Ice Hockey Team Feb. 11 against Switzerland. The gold and bronze medal games are set for Feb. 20.

NOTES: The U.S. Women's Olympic Ice Hockey Team has medaled in both of its Olympic appearances to date. The team won the first gold medal ever awarded in Olympic women's ice hockey in 1998 and finished with the silver medal in 2002 ... The Olympic roster announcement falls just three days before the final game of the Hilton Family Skate to 2006 Tour which is set for Dec. 30 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. The U.S. Women's Team will face Canada in the Tour finale.