CALGARY, ALTA -- The first of three evaluation camps for Canada's National Women's Hockey Team is set to go at Father David Bauer Arena from April 25-27, Canadian Hockey announced Tuesday.

Similar camps will be held at the Ice Gardens in North York, ON, May 2-4 and at Collège Jean de Brébeuf in Montreal, from May 23-25.

Forty players have been invited to the Calgary camp, including National Team members Judy Diduck, Hayley Wickenheiser, Fiona Smith, Rebecca Fahey and Lesley Reddon.

Shannon Miller, who coached Canada to a gold medal at the Women's World Hockey Championship in Kitchener, ON earlier this month, will coordinate the Calgary camp, with help from Shirley Cameron, head coach of the National champion Edmonton Chimos and a member of Canada's gold medal-winning women's team at the 1990 World Championship in Ottawa.

The camps are part of the Women's High Performance Program's ongoing player identification process, but also serve as last-chance tryouts for players who want to join the National Women's Team in Calgary in September to begin a five-month preparation process for the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.

Between 25-30 players will be invited to train with the National Women's Team in September but only 20 will be selected for the Olympic Team roster. Female hockey is a medal sport for the first time in the history of the Winter Games next February at Nagano.

1997 Women's National Team Calgary Evaluation Camp

Friday, April 25

7:00 - 9:00pm Red and White Intra-Squad Game Father David Bauer Arena

Saturday, April 26

11:00 - 12:30pm Red Team Practice Father David Bauer Arena

12:45 - 2:15pm White Team Practice Father David Bauer Arena

4:30 - 5:30pm Red Team Practice Father David Bauer Arena

7:00 - 8:00pm White Team Practice Village Square

Sunday, April 27

9:45 - 11:45am Red and White Intra-Squad Game Father David Bauer Arena