CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Monday the coaching staffs for both Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team and Canada’s National Women’s Development Team for the 2014-15 season.
Both coaching staffs were selected by Melody Davidson (Oyen, Alta.), Hockey Canada’s general manager of national women’s team programs, in consultation with Scott Smith (Bathurst, N.B.), Hockey Canada’s chief operating officer, and Hockey Canada’s regional scouts.
“Our success at the Olympic Winter Games had its foundation with the under-18 and development programs, where 19 of the 21 members of our gold medal-winning team got their start,” said Davidson. “We are very pleased with the quality of both coaching staffs, and know that they will provide these teams with great leadership.”
Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team Cassandra Turner (Campbellford, Ont./Quinnipiac University, ECAC) has been named head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team, along with assistant coaches Delaney Collins (Pilot Mound, Man./Mercyhurst University, CHA) and Jackie Friesen (Regina, Sask./University of Wisconsin, WCHA).
Turner, 33, helped Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team to a gold medal at the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship in Budapest, Hungary, as an assistant coach. The native of Campbellford, Ont., was also an assistant coach with Canada at the 2011 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship, winning a silver medal. She has just completed her third season as associate head coach of the women’s hockey team at Quinnipiac University. Turner is a Team Canada alumnus, having played with Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team from 1999-2003.
Collins, 37, played for Canada’s National Women’s Team from 1999-2011, capturing three gold medals (2000, 2004, 2007) and two silver medals (2005, 2008) at the IIHF World Women's Championship. The native of Pilot Mound, Man., also played for Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team in 1998-99. Collins currently serves as an assistant coach at Mercyhurst University.
Friesen, 30, played with Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team from 2001-04, helping Canada win the U22 Air Canada Cup in both 2003 and 2004. The native of Regina, Sask., serves as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin (WCHA).
Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team will hold a selection camp in Calgary from Aug. 8-17, 2014, followed by a three-game series against the United States’ Women’s Under-18 Select Team on Aug. 21, 22 and 24. Canada will defend its world title at the 2015 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s Championship from Jan. 5-12, 2015 in Buffalo, N.Y.
Canada’s National Women’s Development Team Dwayne Gylywoychuk (Winnipeg, Man.) will serve as head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Development Team, with assistant coaches Amanda Benoit-Wark (Welland, Ont./Ridley College, NAPHA) and Cara Morey (Hensall, Ont./Princeton University, ECAC).
Gylywoychuk, 40, was an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team at the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship in Budapest, Hungary, winning a gold medal. The native of Winnipeg, Man., was the head coach of the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings for the 2012-13 season, after nine seasons as an assistant coach with the organization. He will also serve as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Team under Doug Derraugh this season.
Benoit-Wark, 38, played with Canada’s National Women’s Team from 1998-2002, capturing gold at the 1999 IIHF World Women’s Championship, and was centralized as a member of Canada’s National Women’s Team prior to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. The native of Welland, Ont., is the head coach of the women’s hockey team at Ridley College in St. Catharines, Ont.
Morey, 35, played with Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team in 1999-2000. The native of Hensall, Ont., serves as an assistant coach at Princeton University.
Canada’s National Women’s Development Team will hold a selection camp in Calgary from Aug. 8-17, 2014, followed by a three-game series against the United States’ Women’s Under-22 Select Team on Aug. 21, 22 and 24. The development team will also participate in the 2015 Meco Cup in Germany in January 2015.
For more information on Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team and Canada’s National Women’s Development Team, visit www.hockeycanada.ca, or follow on social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.twitter.com/hc_women.