by A. South

Created on: November 20, 2008   Last Updated: November 25, 2008

Amber Yung doesn't know what all the fuss is about.

Her coach says she's one of the most determined, hardworking hockey players he's ever worked with. But she doesn't think her hard work is anything unique, to her doing her best is just what she's supposed to do.

"She's very humble. She takes criticism and benefits from it and doesn't let praise go to her head," says Robert Deraney, coach of the women's ice hockey team at Providence College. "She comes to practice every day willing to give her all and work hard. I wish I had a whole team of Amber Yungs."

Amber's hard work as a defender at Providence College has earned her national recognition. This summer USA Hockey selected her for the U.S. Women's Under-22 Select team.

She was one of 34 players chosen to participate in the U.S. Women's Under-22 camp. Amber was among the 22 players from that camp chosen for the team.

"It's very exciting to be picked, and to play with them," she says.

In Rhode Island, where Amber is a sophomore at Providence, ice hockey is as common as little league, but in Rockville where she grew up, it wasn't as easy to find a team.

With no girls' hockey in the area, she played on a boys' team from sixth through ninth grade she played on a boys' team. Then she joined the Washington Pride girls hockey program in Rockville, Maryland. Just making it to practice was a feat of commitment. Amber and her mother made the five-hour round-trip drive to Maryland three or four times a week.

That commitment paid off. Amber was one of the most sought after women's hockey recruits out of high school.

"A player as talented as Amber coming from a region that doesn't have a lot of hockey is rare and says a lot about her talent," Coach Deraney says.

She picked Providence for it's biology program and it's reputation as one of the best hockey programs in the nation. Providence is home of the oldest women's ice hockey program in the country and it boasts 10 league championships and a myriad of Olympians since the first team in 1998. The Olympic legacy is one Yung hopes to continue.

"My ultimate goal is to be in the Olympics," she says. "I'm going to keep playing, keep working hard and improving."

Being named to the U.S. Women's U-22 team puts her on the right track; the next step up after that is the U.S. Women's National team, which competes in the Four Nations Cup, to the IIHF Women's World Championship and the Olympics.

"There is no doubt that Amber has a bright future ahead of her," says Coach Deraney. "When you combine

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