Forty of Canada's Best Women's Hockey Players to Attend Six-Day Development Camp

Forty of Canada's Best Women's Hockey Players to Attend Six-Day Development Camp

CALGARY, ALBERTA – Forty of Canada’s best women’s hockey players will attend a six-day development camp from October 8-13, 2002 in Toronto, ON, Head Coach Karen Hughes and the CHA’s Director, Female Programs, Julie Healy announced on Tuesday.

The camp roster includes 19 of the 20 members of Canada’s 2002 Women’s Olympic Team, which captured gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. Defenceman Geraldine Heaney retired from international competition following the Olympic Games and is the only Olympic gold medallist not returning for the 2002-2003 season.

"It’s an exciting time of the year as we get ready for another season," said Karen Hughes, Head Coach of Canada’s National Women’s Team for the 2002-2003 season. "This camp will provide us with healthy competitions at all positions as our younger players will be pushing our veterans for an opportunity with the National Team for this year and in the future."

• The 40-player Development Camp roster includes:

  • A combined 62 World championship gold medals, won by 22 players;

  • 29 players who have been part of the National Under 22 Team: Antal, Apps, Béchard, Botterill, Bredin, C. Chartrand, I. Chartrand, Collins, Desrosiers, Eustace, Ferrari, Kingsbury, Labonté, Laska, MacLeod, Malcher, Ouellette, Perks, Pinelli, Piper, Pretty, Shewchuk, Shupak, Sostorics, St-Pierre, Turner, Walton, West, Wickenheiser;

  • 11 members of the 2002 National Under 22 Team which defeated the U.S. National Under 22 Team in a three-game series (2-0-1) in August 2002: Apps, C. Chartrand, Eustace, Kingsbury, Labonté, MacLeod, Perks, Piper, Pretty, Turner, Walton;

  • 12 National Team Rookies (who have never played a game with Canada’s National Women’s Team): C. Chartrand, Desrosiers, Eustace, Laska, MacLeod, Malcher, Perks, Pinelli, Pretty, Shupak, Turner, Walton;

  • 1 six-time World Champion: Goyette (1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001);

  • 3 five-time World Champions: Brisson (1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001), Campbell (1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001), Sunohara (1990, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001);

  • 3 four-time World Champions: Hefford (1997, 1999, 2000, 2001), Pounder (1994, 1999, 2000, 2001); Wickenheiser (1994, 1997, 1999, 2000);

  • 9 Olympic silver medallists (1998): Botterill, Brisson, Campbell, Dupuis, Goyette, Hefford, Kellar, Sunohara, Wickenheiser;

  • Provincial breakdown: Ontario (16), Quebec (11), Alberta (4), Saskatchewan (4), Manitoba (3), British Columbia (1) and Newfoundland (1);

  • League breakdown: 23 from the NWHL (National Women’s Hockey League), 10 from U.S. Colleges, 5 from Canadian Universities/Colleges, 2 undecided (Shewchuk, Wickenheiser).

During the 2002-2003 season, Canada's National Women's Team will be taking part in the 2002 4 Nations Cup in Kitchener, ON from November 6-10, 2002 (ticket information: 1-800-265-6368/519-745-0303) and the 2003 IIHF World Hockey Championship in Beijing, China from April 2-8, 2003. Other events are TBD.