CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Thursday that 57 players have been invited to attend Canada’s National Women’s Program strength and conditioning camp, taking place May 2-6 at York University in Toronto, Ont.

The invitation list includes nine goaltenders, twenty defencemen and 28 forwards, who will participate in both on- and off- ice sessions, while also being introduced to Hockey Canada’s expectations in areas such as nutrition, mental conditioning, physical fitness, testing, training and other positive daily behaviours.

Players invited to the strength and conditioning camp are eligible for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team and Canada’s National Women’s Under-22/Development Team. Following the camp, Hockey Canada scouts will continue to evaluate players at national team camps in August, and as they compete with their club and school teams at provincial and national events, such as the 2012 National Women’s Under-18 Championship this November in Dawson Creek, B.C.

“We are excited to welcome these promising young athletes to this spring’s camp,” said Kalli Quinn, director of female national teams for Hockey Canada. “They will not only improve their strength and conditioning while at camp, but they’ll also learn about what it takes, on and off the ice, to be selected for Team Canada.”

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 be in the running to represent Canada at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

All training sessions at the strength and conditioning camp are closed. For more information on Canada’s National Women’s Team, National Women’s Under-22/Development Team and National Women’s Under-18 Team, please visit www.HockeyCanada.ca.

You can also stay up-to-date on Canada’s National Women’s Program by following Team Canada at www.Twitter.com/HC_TeamCanada and becoming a fan of Hockey Canada at www.Facebook.com/HockeyCanada.