Hockey Canada women’s national camp roster highlighted by Calgary presence

Sonny Sachdeva, September 17, 2015 —

Hockey Canada’s National Women’s Team Fall Festival is in full swing. The organization is putting their top on-ice talent through the paces to determine who will suit up for the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship tournament.

The camp, which runs from Sept. 13–20 at Calgary’s Markin MacPhail Centre, includes 47 of Canada’s best competing for 24 spots on the country’s top squad.

Calgary’s presence at the camp is significant. Besides the fact that the week-long festival is taking place at Hockey Canada’s headquarters in Calgary, the camp’s roster also features 10 players from the Canadian Women’s Hockey League’s (CWHL) Calgary Inferno.

Former University of Calgary Dino Hayley Wickenheiser leads the group of Inferno participants. Wickenheiser played for the Dinos from 2010–15, winning the CIS title in 2012.

The decorated centre compiled 134 points in 68 games during her time at U of C, racking up a Canada West MVP Award and CIS Player of the Year honours in the process.

She is also a four-time Olympic gold medallist and the leading all-time scorer for the Canadian women’s national team.

Joining Wickenheiser from the Inferno are forwards Blayre Turnbull, Jillian Saulnier, Rebecca Johnston, Brianne Jenner, Haley Irwin, Sarah Davis, Jessica Campbell and Bailey Bram, as well as defender Brigette Lacquette.

The Dinos’ presence at the Hockey Canada camp extends to the coaching staff as well. Brad Kirkwood, who serves as the goaltending coach for the Dinos men’s hockey team, has been tabbed as a goaltending consultant for Hockey Canada’s national camp. Kirkwood was instrumental in guiding the Dinos men’s tandem of Kris Lazaruk and Jacob DeSerres as they became one of the top goaltending duos in the CIS last season.

Following the preliminary camp, Hockey Canada’s management team — including General Manager Melody Davidson and head coach Laura Schuler — will assess the 47 participants as they return to their club teams to determine who will make the final cut for the World Championships. Canada has made it to the finals in every year of the tournament’s existence, but has not won gold since 2012. With Wickenheiser on board — along with her seven World Championships gold medals – Canada looks poised to take the top spot once again.

The 2016 tournament will be held in Kamloops, B.C. from March 28–April 4 next year.