DURHAM - Hilary Knight speaks of Natalie Darwitz the same way like a little kid might talk about Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin. The only difference in this case is that while that child might revere those players from afar, Knight does it while playing on the same line.

A line that also happens to be the top unit on the USA Women's National Hockey Team.

"I looked up to Natalie and Angela Ruggiero and Jenny Potter and Julie Chu, and now I'm playing with them," said Knight, a native of Hanover, whose U.S. team defeated the Women's Hockey East All-Stars at the University of New Hampshire yesterday afternoon by a score of 4-0.

"All these great players and now I'm skating with them. It's a dream come true every day to come to the rink."

Darwitz was the youngest member to ever play on the U.S. National Team in 1999 at the age of 15 and since then has skated in two Olympics, eight International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championships and six Four Nations Cups. She's also played three years at the University of Minnesota, where she amassed 246 points, won two national titles and was a three-time finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the nation's top player.

An impressive résumé to say the least, but Knight might be well on her way to eclipsing those totals.

In two years at the University of Wisconsin (she's taking this year off to play for Team USA), Knight has tallied 121 points and as sophomore led the NCAA with 83 points, helping the Badgers to the 2009 national title. She was also an All-America selection and a finalist for the Kazmaier.

"I don't know if I'm there yet," said Knight, who played youth hockey in Hanover and spent four years at Choate Rosemary Hall prep school in Wallingford, Conn. "Natalie's an icon in Minnesota and she's a great playmaker, so it's actually an honor for me to even be on the same line as her."

Knight didn't pick up any points yesterday, but certainly showed off her playmaking ability, hitting linemate Monique Lamoureux with a backdoor pass midway through the second period. She also fed Darwitz with a nifty backhand saucer pass from behind the cage in the third.

The trio certainly should be a formidable line when the Olympics get under way in Vancouver, B.C. - set to begin in a little less than three months.

"We've worked extremely hard," Knight said. "It's a long journey, but with this group it doesn't seem that long. We've got a really fun group."

Home sweet home

Yesterday marked a homecoming of sorts for USA defenseman Kacey Bellamy, who graduated in 2000 after playing four years at UNH. In 143 career games as a Wildcat, she recorded 27 goals and 80 assists, ranking third all-time in school history.

"This was great. We practiced here yesterday and I came in and it felt like I never left," said Bellamy, who picked up an assist in yesterday's victory. "I miss this place, I really do, but you have to move on. I'm just starting to build friendships with the girls now. It's awesome."

While a couple of cuts remain before the Olympic team is finalized, the 22-year-old Bellamy will likely be making her first trip to the Olympic Games. She's played in the last two IIHF World Championships, winning gold at both. She's also skated for the U.S. at three Four Nations Cups, winning a title in 2008. But with the Olympics looming close, the excitement is building for her like never before.

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