Three former University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey players -- Brigette Lacquette, Jocelyne Larcoque and Haley Irwin -- were introduced Friday as part of the 23 member 2018 Canadian Olympic Team that will suit up to defend gold in Pyeongchang, South Korea in February.

While Irwin -- a forward who played with UMD from 2007-09, and 2010-12 -- is already a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2014, 2010), it will mark the second Olympic team for UMD two-time All-American Larocque, who won gold with Canada in 2014 as a defenseman.  Larocque, who skated for UMD from 2007-2011,  was one of the last players cut from the 2010 Canadian Olympic Team, and after centralizing with Canada for the first half of the season, came back to Duluth and helped the Bulldogs win their 2010 NCAA title.  Both Lacrocque and Irwin won an NCAA title with UMD in Duluth in 2008.

Lacquette will make her first appearance for Canada in the Olympics after also coming up just short after centralization in 2013.  A USCHO Third Team All-American with the Bulldogs, the native of Mallard, Manitoba played three seasons with UMD (2011-12, 2012-13 and 2014-15).

"Having all the hard work pay off, it's definitely very special for me," Lacquette said.

Lacquette becomes the 30th Olympian for the Bulldog program, and the fourth Canadian Olympic Team member.

In Pyeongchang, Canada will compete in Group A along with the United States, Finland and Russia, while Group B features Sweden, Switzerland, Japan and South Korea. The Olympic women's hockey tournament opens on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Kwandong Hockey Centre and culminates on Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. Canada begins preliminary-round play on Sunday, Feb. 11.

For an interactive look at Canada's full roster, click here.