TORONTO (U SPORTS) – Twenty-one of the best U SPORTS women’s hockey players have been invited to attend Hockey Canada’s Summer Showcase in Calgary, Aug. 5-13.
It is the second consecutive year the U SPORTS All-Stars will take part in the Summer Showcase, who will play two games against each of Hockey Canada’s National Women’s Development Team, as well as Japan’s national women’s program. The camp is modeled after Hockey Canada’s national team high performance program and will also include off-ice and media training, nutritional classes and a professional development opportunity for U SPORTS coaching staff from Aug. 3 to 5.
The U SPORTS roster features six returning players from last year’s inaugural camp, all of whom helped Canada win a silver medal at the 2017 Winter Universiade in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The team also boasts two members of the 2017 U SPORTS Women’s Hockey champion Alberta Pandas (F Alex Poznikoff, G Lindsey Post) the reigning Championship MVP (G Lindsey Post), U SPORTS Player of the Year (F Sarah Bujold, StFX), Rookie of the Year (G Tricia Deguire, McGill) and six 2017 U SPORTS All-Canadians.
Additionally, three players invited have declared for the 2017 Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) Draft.
“I look forward to collaborating and having our top athletes together to play Canada’s National Women’s Development Team and Team Japan,” said Stacey Colarossi, head coach of the U SPORTS All-Stars, who serves as bench boss of the Laurentian Voyageurs. “The experience and opportunity for both athletes and staff is invaluable to the development of the individuals and furthermore the knowledge returned to our respective programs.”
UBC goaltender Amelia Boughn and McGill forward Olivia Atkinson have also been invited to the Summer Showcase by Hockey Canada and will suit up against their U SPORTS counterparts in the week-long camp.
“We’re a big part of the long-term athlete development (program with Hockey Canada),” said Danièle Sauvageau, chair of the U SPORTS Women’s Hockey Sport Technical Sub-Committee, and head coach of the Canadian national women’s hockey team that won the gold medal at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. “We want to take our place and become the feeder for Team Canada.”
