Janes ALL IN - Ambassadors

Five Team Canada athletes – all of them international gold medallists – are helping get the Janes ALL IN message out to the hockey community and inspiring Canadians to join them in supporting women’s hockey from coast to coast to coast.

Quinton Byfield The second-overall pick by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2020 NHL Draft, Quinton Byfield has been a Program of Excellence staple since 2018, including a gold medal at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship. The Newmarket, Ont., native, who plies his trade in the Ontario Hockey League with the Sudbury Wolves, also earned a silver medal with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup after making his international debut with Canada Black at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. “When we put on the Team Canada jersey, we are playing for the name on the front, and to make our country proud. We need to encourage fans to support our national women’s teams at all levels whenever that jersey is on the ice.” Q. Growing up, what was your favourite after-school snack? Chicken nuggets!"
Ann-Renée Desbiens A familiar face between the pipes for Team Canada since 2010, Ann-Renée Desbiens owns silver medals from the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, 2015 IIHF Women’s World Championship and 2011 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship, as well as gold medal from the 2015 Nations Cup with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team. The La Malbaie, Que., product dominated the competition at the University of Wisconsin, winning the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the best player in NCAA women’s hockey in 2017. “I’m so proud to be part of a program that wants to shine a light on our game. Our challenges won’t be solved overnight, but if we as Canadians can give the women’s game more attention, our game WILL grow!” Q. Which dipping sauce do you pair with your boneless bites? Sweet Thai Chili."
Jamie Drysdale A leader up and down the Program of Excellence since his 2018 debut, Jamie Drysdale was taken at No. 6 by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2020 NHL Draft. The Toronto native wore the ‘C’ as captain of Canada Black at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and of Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2019 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. The Erie Otters blue-liner also skated as an under-ager at the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship, and helped Canada to gold at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship. “In the history of Team Canada, there are so many great women’s moments, and they should be celebrated. I think it’s terrific that our goalie masks will be recognizing some of the women who created these special moments.” Q. When choosing wing flavours – do you go sweet or spicy? Spicy! With ranch sauce."
Sarah Nurse A Team Canada veteran with close to 70 games of international experience under her belt, Sarah Nurse won gold at the 2013 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship and at the 2014 Nations Cup, in addition to a silver medal at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and bronze at the 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship. The Hamilton, Ont., product was a leader with the University of Wisconsin, reaching the NCAA Frozen Four in all four of her seasons before becoming the second-overall pick by the Toronto Furies in the 2018 CWHL Draft. “Our generation is always looking to inspire the next, and programs like Janes ALL IN give us the platform to grow our game. I hope young girls can look to us to show them that anything is possible for women in this game.” Q. What’s your go-to, quick-and-easy meal? Chicken fingers, all day long!"
Caroline Ouellette A steadying force with Canada’s National Women’s Team for 16 seasons, Caroline Ouellette earned her place among the greats of the women’s game with offensive firepower and unwavering leadership. She did not miss an Olympic Winter Games or IIHF Women’s World Championship between 1999 and 2015, winning six world titles – scoring the overtime winner to give Canada its most recent top-of-the-podium finish in 2012 – and is one of just three players – with Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford – to win four Olympic gold medals. “The journey gets better with each generation of women’s hockey in Canada. Programs like Janes ALL IN ensure that our daughters who play hockey have increased opportunities in the game we all love.” Q. What’s your family’s favourite easy meal solution? My daughter loves the dippable chicken fries!