CANADA’S NATIONAL WOMEN’S TEAM ROSTER NAMED FOR 2016 IIHF WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

 

Team Canada has officially begun its quest for gold at the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship, taking place March 28 – April 4  in Kamloops, B.C., with the announcement of its player roster.

The 23 players selected to Canada’s roster include three goaltenders, seven defencemen and 13 forwards. It  features 17 returning players from Canada’s 2015 World Championship squad that won silver in Malmö, Sweden, along with 16 returnees from Canada’s 2015 4 Nations Cup team, and two players that will make their first appearance on the world championship stage.

Canada’s roster was selected by head coach Laura Schuler, assistant coaches Howie Draper and Dwayne Gylywoychuk, and goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood, alongside Melody Davidson, Hockey Canada’s general manager of national women’s team programs.

It was chosen following a year-long evaluation process that included all national team, development team and under-18 team camps, along with international events, and club team performance.

“We’re thrilled with the group selected to represent Canada on the international stage in Kamloops. After a long evaluation process, we’re confident in the 23 players we’ve chosen to wear the Canadian jersey and we’re looking forward to coming together as a team as we aim to reclaim gold on Canadian ice.” – Laura Schuler, Head Coach, Canada’s National Women’s Team

Canada’s National Women’s Team roster for the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship includes:

• 17 players who won a silver medal with Canada National Women’s Team at the 2015 IIHF Women’s World Championship (Bram, Clark, Davis, Fortino, Jenner, Johnston, Krzyzaniak, Lacquette, Larocque, Maschmeyer, Poulin, Rattray, Rougeau, Saulnier, Spooner, Wakefield, Watchorn)
• 15 players who won a silver medal with Canada’s National Women’s Team at the 2015 4 Nations Cup in Sundsvall, Sweden (Agosta, Bram, Clark, Davis, Fortino, Howe, Krzyzaniak, Lacquette, Maschmeyer, Poulin, Rougeau, Saulnier, Spooner, Turnbull, Wakefield)
• 16 players who won a gold medal with Canada’s National Women’s Team at the 2014 4 Nations Cup in Kamloops, B.C. (Bram, Clark, Fortino, Howe, Jenner, Johnston, Krzyzaniak, Larocque, Maschmeyer, Rattray, Rougeau, Saulnier, Spooner, Turnbull, Wakefield, Watchorn)
• 13 players who won a gold medal with Canada’s National Women’s Team at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia (Agosta, Jenner, Johnston, Fortino, Labonté, Larocque, Mikkelson, Poulin, Rougeau, Spooner, Wakefield, Watchorn, Wickenheiser)
• Two players who will make their world championship debut at the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship (Howe, Turnbull).

Canada opens the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship against the United States on March 28, and also faces Russia (March 29) and Finland (March 31) in preliminary action. Both the bronze- and gold-medal games will be played on April 4th.

The 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship is the 17th since the tournament’s 1990 inception. Canada’s National Women’s Team has appeared in every world championship gold-medal game, winning 10 gold medals (1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2012) and six silver (2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015).