71 players invited to National Women’s Development Team training camp and National Women’s Under-18 Team selection camp in August
CALGARY – Hockey Canada has invited 71 players to participate in Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team selection camp, presented by BFL CANADA and Canada’s National Women’s Development Team training camp, presented by BFL CANADA, set to take place this August in St. Catharines, ON.
As part of the under-18 team selection camp, 46 players – six goaltenders, 14 defence and 26 forwards – will compete for an opportunity to represent Canada in a three-game series against the United States, Aug. 14-20 in Lake Placid, N.Y. Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team invitees will be split into two teams – Red and White – for practices, intrasquad games and off-ice sessions. They will also welcome Finland’s national women’s under-18 team, giving the U18 group an opportunity to experience international competition.
Included in the U18 roster are nine 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship gold medallists – Mackenzie Alexander, Hannah Clark, Gracie Graham, Morgan Jackson, Caitlin Kraemer, Charlotte Pieckenhagen, Avery Pickering, Abby Stonehouse and Emma Venusio.
Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, QC), vice-president of hockey operations, led the player selection process in consultation with Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON), senior manager of player development and scouting.
“We are thrilled with this group of 46 talented athletes who will participate in selection camp,” Kingsbury said. “We are confident this group will come ready to compete for a spot to wear the Maple Leaf in international competition as we work towards winning a third-consecutive gold medal at the world championship.”
Twenty-three players – three goaltenders, seven defence and 13 forwards – will also take to the ice in St. Catharines during the training camp for the development team, Aug. 9-13 ahead of its three-game series against the United States, Aug. 14-20.
The roster includes 12 players who won gold at U18 Women’s Worlds in 2022 or 2023 – Jocelyn Amos, Alexia Aubin, Jordan Baxter, Brooke Disher, Tova Henderson, Jade Iginla, Alex Law, Sarah MacEachern, Ava Murphy, Emmalee Pais, Alyssa Regalado and Sara Swiderski – and five players who were part of the development series against the U.S. last summer – Anne Cherkowski, Hannah Murphy, Sara Swiderski, Maddi Wheeler and Sarah Wozniewicz. Ashley Messier and Sarah Paul, who participated in the development series last summer, were invited but are unable to participate this year.
“We have an exciting group of accomplished athletes joining our development program this year in St. Catharines,” Kingsbury added. “We are looking forward to watching this group return to the ice for a competitive camp in preparation for our series against the United States.” For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram