CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has added national team alumna Courtney Birchard (Mississauga, Ont.) as an assistant coach for Canada’s National Women’s Development Team at the Nations Cup in Füssen, Germany, Jan. 3-6, 2018.

Birchard joins the coaching staff as a replacement for Matt Desrosiers (Port Colborne, Ont./Clarkson University, ECAC), who has had to step down for personal reasons. She will be working alongside head coach Noémie Marin (Acton Vale, Que./John Abbott College, CEGEP), assistant coach Carla MacLeod (Calgary/Edge School, CSSHL) and goaltending consultant Gord Woodhall (Winnipeg/Winnipeg, MFMHL) – as well as Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, Que.), director of national women’s team programs for Hockey Canada.

As a player, Birchard represented Canada at three IIHF Women’s World Championships, winning one gold (2012) and two silver medals (2013, 2015). She has worn the Maple Leaf numerous times, playing more than 60 games as part of Canada’s National Women’s Team, and over 20 games as part of Canada’s National Women’s Development Team. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Birchard played with the CWHL’s Brampton Thunder for five seasons before joining the Ice Dream Kosice in Slovakia for the 2017-18 season.

“First and foremost, we want to thank Matt for his work to this point, including during a very successful summer camp in Calgary last August. We wish him all the best and hope to work with him again soon,” said Kingsbury. “It is always a pleasure to welcome fellow national team players to our coaching staff as they progress through their on- and off-ice careers within the game. Courtney’s experience as a player and her familiarity with our women’s program and the expectations of the program will be an asset to our staff and our players as we look to represent Canada with pride at the Nations Cup.”

Earlier this month, Hockey Canada unveiled a 21-player roster, consisting of two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 12 forwards, selected for the Nations Cup.

Canada will open the 2018 Nations Cup against Finland at 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT on Jan. 3. The schedule also has the team facing Russia on Jan. 4 before the tournament culminates with the gold-medal game at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on Saturday, Jan. 6.

A pre-tournament game is also planned for Dec. 30 against Austria.

Canada has won gold 11 times at the Nations Cup (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016).

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team Program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Twitter.com/HC_Women.