CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Tuesday that 104 players have been invited to attend Canada’s National Women’s Program strength and conditioning camp, taking place May 7-11 at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.

The invitation list includes 53 candidates for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team and 51 candidates for Canada’s National Women’s Development Team, who will participate in both on- and off-ice sessions, while also introducing and reiterating Hockey Canada’s expectations in areas such as nutrition, mental conditioning, physical fitness, testing, training and other positive daily behaviours.

This spring’s strength and conditioning camp marks the first National Women’s Program activity for the 2014-15 season, as well as the first big step on the road to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Players selected for this camp are in consideration for the Canadian teams that will compete at the 2015 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship; 2015 Meco Cup, an international tournament featuring Europe’s top senior women’s teams; as well as competitions with Canada’s National Women’s Team.

Following the strength and condition camp, Hockey Canada scouts will continue to evaluate players at additional national team camps in August, and as they compete with their club and school teams at various provincial and national events, including the 2015 Canada Winter Games; 2015 Esso Cup, Canada’s National Female Midget Championship; and both NCAA Division 1 and Canadian Interuniversity Sport competition.

“This camp is a key step on the road to continued Team Canada success during the 2014-15 season, but also as we start an exciting and intense four-year journey toward PyeongChang,” said Melody Davidson, general manager of National Women’s Team programs. “We can’t wait to welcome these talented young women, and potential future Olympians, to Hamilton for five days of learning what it takes, both on and off the ice, to wear the Team Canada jersey.”

Canada’s National Women’s Program strength and conditioning camp will consist of five days of off-ice fitness training and on-ice sessions. The camp is considered an important first step in pinpointing the country’s future women’s hockey stars, including those who could one day be in the running to play for Canada’s National Women’s Team at events such as the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship and Olympic Winter Games.

All training sessions at the strength and conditioning camp are closed to the public.

For more information on Canada’s National Women’s Team, National Women’s Development Team and National Women’s Under-18 Team, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, or follow along through social media at  www.twitter.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hc_women and www.instragram.com/hockeycanada, as well as by becoming a fan of Hockey Canada at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada.