CALGARY, Alta. – Forty-six of the country’s top women’s under-18 players have earned invites to the BFL National Women’s Under-18 Team Summer Development Camp, presented by Sobeys, July 29-Aug. 5 at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

The players – six goaltenders, 14 defence and 26 forwards – will be split into two teams and will participate in practices, skills sessions and intrasquad games during camp. The week also features games against the program’s NextGen athletes (born in 2003) who missed the entire 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Camp will serve as a final opportunity for the NextGen athletes to prepare for their upcoming college season as they continue to learn and develop under an experienced coaching staff.

“This is a unique situation for all the athletes in our program, as we have never had an opportunity to have every level practice and play each other in the same setting,” said Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, Que.) director of hockey operations with Hockey Canada. “Our athletes have stayed the course and remained committed through virtual meetings since last summer. Our coaching and support staffs, as well as our players, have found ways to stay engaged and we are excited to see how it has all come together once we get on the ice in a competitive setting. We are expecting a high-tempo and spirited camp and we are eager to put all our off-ice work into practice.”

Coaching staff named for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team

Hockey Canada has also named the coaching staff tasked to lead Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team for the 2021-22 season.

Howie Draper (Edmonton, Alta./University of Alberta, CWUAA) who led Canada to gold and silver at the 2019 and 2020 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championships, returns for his fourth year behind the bench. He will be joined by assistant coaches Alison Domenico (Ottawa, Ont./Providence College, HE) and Tara Watchorn (Newcastle, Ont./Stonehill College, NEWHA), and goaltending coach Gord Woodhall (Winnipeg, Man./Winnipeg, MFHL), who joined Draper on the medal-winning teams in 2019 and 2020.

The support staff that will work with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team throughout the season includes:

• Video coach Stef Thomson (Oshawa, Ont./NAIT, ACAC)
• Therapists Danielle McNally (Wolfville, N.S.) and Kaitlyn Maddigan (London, Ont.)
• Team physician Dr. Andi Jones (Penetanguishene, Ont./Penetang, PJHL)
• Strength and conditioning coach Jason Weber (Saskatoon, Sask./University of Saskatchewan, CWUAA)
• Mental performance consultant Paula McQuaid (Charlottetown, P.E.I.)
• Equipment manager Andrew Davis (Hudson Heights, Que./Concordia University, RSEQ)
• Coordinator of hockey operations Hanna Bunton (Belleville, Ont.)
• Coordinator of hockey operations Katie Greenway (Guelph, Ont.)

CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF CAMP STAFF

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook and Twitter.