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Security concerns U.S. women's hockey team pulls out of Finland event
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The U.S. women's national ice hockey team pulled out of a major pre-Olympic competition in Finland next month, citing security concerns. The decision to withdraw from the only foreign event on the team's upcoming schedule was made following a team meeting in which players were split on whether or not they wanted to go, team officials said. Other American athletes, including tennis and golf pros, have canceled trips to overseas events because of security fears. "The team is like most Americans who have a certain amount of apprehension about traveling overseas," USA Hockey spokesman Chuck Menke said. "It wasn't a decision made by the team or their coaches, but they were asked about their feelings." The father of forward Kathleen Kauth is missing and presumed among the dead from the World Trade Center attacks. Kauth is traveling with the team, though she did not play in Saturday's win over Canada in Salt Lake City. Her father, Donald Kauth, worked in the World Trade Center. "She hasn't missed anything and is holding up well," said Larry Reid, the women's team manager. "She has the support of her family, which is her team. She was offered additional time, but she would rather be with the team." The women's team, a favorite to win its second straight Olympic gold medal, was to have traveled to Finland Nov. 3-10, to play in the Four Nations Cup. The team had two games each scheduled with Canada, Finland and Sweden. "Our feeling was why take unnecessary risks right now," Menke said. Four U.S. figure skaters pulled out of a competition last week in Austria because of security concerns, and American gymnasts withdrew from world championships in Madrid, Spain, because of ongoing military action and federal travel warnings.
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