CALGARY, Alta. – Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, Que.), director of hockey operations, announced Friday that three players, defenceman Jaime Bourbonnais (Mississauga, Ont./PWHPA) and forwards Jessie Eldridge (Barrie, Ont./PWHPA) and Julia Gosling (London, Ont./St. Lawrence University, ECAC) have been released from Canada’s National Women’s Team centralization roster.  

“This is an incredibly difficult decision to make as Jaime, Jessie and Julia have committed themselves to a high level of excellence in vying for a spot on Canada’s Olympic team,” said Kingsbury. “Hockey Canada and our staff thank each of them for the impact they had and will continue to have on our program.”

Canada trimmed its roster following a month-long training schedule that included a series in Finland, two Rivalry Series games against the United States and the Capital City Challenge in Ottawa, Ont.

Twenty-six players remain on Canada’s roster - three goaltenders, eight defence and 15 forwards. Twenty-three players will be chosen for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China.

Canada’s National Women’s Team will continue its Olympic preparations with a pair of games against an all-star team from the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) on Dec. 9 and 11 in Calgary, followed by Rivalry Series games later this month in St. Louis, Mo., and St. Paul, Minn. The series will conclude with games in Edmonton (Jan. 3) and Red Deer (Jan. 6).

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or following along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #OurGameIsBack.