ST. CATHARINES, Ontario – Hockey Canada has announced the roster for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team for a three-game series against the United States, Aug. 16-19 in Lake Placid, NY. The team was selected by Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, QC), vice-president of hockey operations, and Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON) senior manager of player development and scouting. Head coach Tara Watchorn (Newcastle, ON/Boston University, HE), assistant coaches Stefanie McKeough (Carlsbad Springs, ON/University of Ottawa, OUA), Vicky Sunohara (Scarborough, ON/University of Toronto, OUA) and Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, ON/Toronto Metropolitan University, OUA), and goaltending consultant Gord Woodhall (Winnipeg, MB/Winnipeg, MFHL) also provided input.
Included in the roster are eight gold medallists from the 2023 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship – Mackenzie Alexander, Hannah Clark, Gracie Graham, Morgan Jackson, Caitlin Kraemer, Avery Pickering, Abby Stonehouse and Emma Venusio.
“We have a very fast and skilled group,” said Watchorn. “We can play with creativity, we have firepower from the back end and it will be a fun team to watch. You can see the difference in this group every day, and it’s important we continue with that growth mindset. Our goal is to get better everyday.” Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team will play Finland in the final game of the National Women’s Program Summer Showcase, presented by BFL CANADA, at Canada Games Park in St. Catharines tomorrow at noon ET/9 a.m. PT. To watch the livestream, CLICK HERE. Canada’s National Women’s Development Team, which held a five-day training camp in St. Catharines, will also face off against the United States in a three-game series this week in Lake Placid.
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. “We have a very young and competitive group in our development program this year,” said Kingsbury. “A number of these athletes have experience and understand what it takes to win in short-term competition. Facing the Americans is another development opportunity as they continue to grow and transition into a future in our program. We are excited about the week ahead in Lake Placid.” All six games at Herb Brooks Arena will be livestreamed by USA Hockey. For more information, CLICK HERE.
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.