CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the 23 players who have been named to Canada’s National Women’s Team for the third and fourth games of the 2023-24 Rivalry Series, set for Dec. 14 and Dec. 16 in Kitchener and Sarnia, Ontario, respectively.

Three goaltenders, seven defence and 13 forwards were selected by general manager Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, QC/Toronto, PWHL), head coach Troy Ryan (Spryfield, NS/Toronto, PWHL) and Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON), senior manager of player development and scouting. Assistant coaches Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, NS/Montréal, PWHL), Caroline Ouellette (Montréal, QC/Concordia University, RSEQ), Courtney Kessel (Mississauga, ON/Boston, PWHL) and Rachel Flanagan (Pontypool, ON/Toronto, PWHL), and goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, AB/Toronto, PWHL) also provided input.

“We are thrilled to announce the 23 players who will wear the Maple Leaf as we continue the Rivalry Series in Kitchener and Sarnia in December,” Kingsbury said. “These two games provide our group with another opportunity to evaluate our pool of athletes and continue to build the pieces needed to have success at the World Championship in Utica in April. Every opportunity we have to come together is an opportunity to build, and we look forward to the competition and we are excited about playing in front of Canadian crowds in Ontario.”

The roster features 17 players who suited up at the Rivalry Series in Tempe, Arizona, and Los Angeles, California, in November (Bell, Bourbonnais, Campbell, Clark, Fast, Julia Gosling, Jaques, Jenner, Larocque, Maltais, Maschmeyer, Nurse, O’Neill, Poulin, Shelton, Stacey, Turnbull), as well as three players who are set to make their debut with Canada’s National Women’s Team (Cherkowski, Gardiner, Nicole Gosling).

The Rivalry Series continues at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, followed by a stop at Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia on Dec. 16 at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. The teams will travel west in February, with the final three games of the series being played in Saskatoon on Feb. 7, Regina on Feb. 9 and St. Paul, Minnesota, on Feb. 11.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast all seven Rivalry Series games; please check local listings for details. Media wishing to attend the games in Kitchener and Sarnia must fill out the online accreditation form.

Tickets for all four Rivalry Series games in Canada are on sale now at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets, and are available starting under $30.

This year’s Rivalry Series marks the fifth year the cross-border rivals will face-off in cities across Canada and the United States. Canada’s National Women’s Team dropped the opening two games of the 2023-24 series earlier this month, giving Canada an 11-12 record in 23 games since the inception of the Rivalry Series in 2018-19.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 11)

TV: TSN | Stream: TSN Direct

For the second year in a row, the Rivalry Series makes a stop in the City of Angels on Saturday as Canada’s National Women’s Team hits the ice inside Crypto.com Arena against the United States.

Last Game & Last Meeting

The longtime rivals faced off in another close game in Tempe, Arizona, on Wednesday. Brianne Jenner scored the equalizer for the Canadians midway through the second period, but a pair of third-period goals from the U.S. left Canada on the wrong end of a 3-1 final in Game 1 .Emerance Maschmeyer made 24 saves for Canada, which outshot the Americans 36-27.

What to Watch

After Jessica DiGirolamo made her Team Canada debut in Tempe, look for Sophie Jaques to do the same in L.A. The Toronto native has three international games to her credit at lower levels in the National Women’s Program, but all three have come in selection camps, so this will be the first time she has officially worn the Team Canada jersey. Jaques was a second-round pick by Boston in the inaugural PWHL Draft, going 10th overall after finishing a decorated college career at Ohio State University that included a Patty Kazmaier Award (2022-23), an NCAA national championship (2022) and 156 points (61-95—156) in 172 games.

Hilary Knight is starting the 2023-24 season right where she left off in 2022-23 – as an offensive catalyst for the Americans. The U.S. captain had a hat trick in the gold medal game at Women’s Worlds after posting eight points (4-4—8) in seven Rivalry Series games last season, and kicked off this year’s series with a goal and an assist in Game 1.

Fillier is Fantastic

Fresh off her 50th game with Canada’s National Women’s Team, Sarah Fillier has already climbed to fourth in points among active players. Her assist on Wednesday gives the 2023 Women’s Worlds MVP 58 points (37-21—58) in her Team Canada career, just one behind Sarah Nurse, who has played 32 more games with the Maple Leaf on her chest. She has a long way to go to catch the top two on the active list – Jenner (116) and Marie-Philip Poulin (210).

Back on Home Ice

The Rivalry Series returns to Canada with stops in Kitchener, Ontario (Dec. 14), Sarnia, Ontario (Dec. 16), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Feb. 7) and Regina, Saskatchewan (Feb. 9). Tickets are available now , starting at under $30!

A Look Back

The Canadians have been in this position before, losing the first game of the series to the U.S. in 2018, 2019 and last year, but they have also shown they are able to bounce back. After being shutout 1-0 in the 2018 opener, Canada stormed back in Game 2 behind two-point efforts from Poulin and Jamie Lee Rattray to earn a 4-3 win in Toronto.

All-time record: Canada leads 100-76-1

Canada goals: 488

United States goals: 431

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 8)

TV: TSN | Stream: TSN Direct

Hello, Arizona! The 2023-24 Rivalry Series gets underway in the desert on Wednesday as Canada’s National Women’s Team faces off against the United States at Mullett Arena in Tempe.

Last Game & Last Meeting

It has been 204 days since the rivals clashed in the gold medal game at the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship, where Canada came away with the silver medal after falling 6-3 to the United States in Brampton, Ontario. Brianne Jenner helped set up Marie-Philip Poulin for the opening goal before finding the back of the net twice herself to finish the night with three points.

The Canadians claimed last year’s Rivalry Series with an epic comeback, winning the final four games to erase a 3-0 U.S. lead. They finished it in style, outscoring the Americans 10-1 in a pair of wins in Quebec, capped by a 25-save shutout from Ann-Renee Desbiens and two goals from Blayre Turnbull in a 5-0 victory in Game 7.

What to Watch

As always, Canada brings plenty of international experience, but it will also welcome three newcomers making their Team Canada debuts as Jessica DiGirolamo, Sophie Jaques and Corinne Schroeder join Canada’s National Women’s Team for the first time. Jaques claimed the Patty Kazmaier Award as NCAA player of the year last season after posting 48 points (24-24—48) in 41 games on the blue line with Ohio State University.

The Americans have 22 players back from the roster that won Women’s Worlds gold in Brampton, and one making her Team USA debut – Laila Edwards, who was named Most Valuable Player at the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, will become the first Black woman to play for the U.S. Women’s National Team.

Chasing History

After posting seven points in seven games in Brampton, Brianne Jenner is rising up Canada’s all-time scoring list. Her 113 points puts her 13th and leave her only seven from passing Vicky Sunohara and earning a spot in the top 10. If that wasn’t enough of a reason to keep an eye out on Canada’s No. 19, the Oakville, Ontario native is five goals away from 50 in her international career, which would make her only the 13th Canadian to reach that mark.

A Look Back

The storied rivals will meet for the 177th time, with Canada holding an all-time edge, 100-75-1. The last time Canada and the U.S. clashed on American ice was in December 2023, when Danielle Serdachny made her mark in her Team Canada debut, scoring 2:16 into overtime to lift Canada to a 3-2 victory in Game 5 of the Rivalry Series.

All-time record: Canada leads 100-75-1
Canada goals: 487
United States goals: 428

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the 23 players who have been named to Canada’s National Women’s Team for the first two games of the 2023-24 Rivalry Series, set for Nov. 8 in Tempe, Arizona, and Nov. 11 in Los Angeles, California.

Three goaltenders, eight defence and 12 forwards were selected by general manager Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, QC/Toronto, PWHL), head coach Troy Ryan (Spryfield, NS/Toronto, PWHL) and Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON), senior manager of player development and scouting. Assistant coaches Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, NS/Montréal, PWHL), Caroline Ouellette (Montréal, QC/Concordia University, RSEQ) and Courtney Birchard-Kessel (Mississauga, ON/Boston, PWHL), and goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, AB) also provided input.

“We are excited to announce the 23 players who will kick off this year’s Rivalry Series and play our first two games against the United States, as this is a great opportunity to measure ourselves against our cross-border rivals,” Kingsbury said. “Our roster combines veteran leadership with young talent, and we know this group is excited to officially begin a new season and represent Canada south of the border.” 

The roster features 17 players who won a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship (Ambrose, Bourbonnais, Campbell, Clark, Fast, Fillier, Jenner, Larocque, Maltais, Maschmeyer, Nurse, O’Neill, Poulin, Rattray, Shelton, Stacey, Turnbull), as well as three players (DiGirolamo, Jaques, Schroeder) who will make their debut with Canada’s National Women’s Team.

The Rivalry Series opens at Mullett Arena in Tempe on Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. MT/9:30 p.m. ET, followed by a stop at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET. The teams will travel north of the border for a pair of games in Kitchener and Sarnia in December, while the final three games of the series will be played in Saskatoon, Regina and St. Paul, Minnesota, in February.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast all seven Rivalry Series games; please check local listings for details.

Tickets for all four Rivalry Series games in Canada are on sale now at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets, and are available starting under $30.

This year’s Rivalry Series marks the fifth year the cross-border rivals will face-off in cities across Canada and the United States. In 21 games since the inception of the Rivalry Series in 2018-19, Canada holds an 11-10 record in the series.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, QC/Toronto, PWHL) and Troy Ryan (Spryfield, NS/Toronto, PWHL) will lead Canada’s National Women’s Team as general manager and head coach, respectively, through the 2025-26 season, culminating in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. 

Kingsbury departed Hockey Canada in September to become the first general manager of PWHL Toronto, while Ryan, who signed on as the full-time head coach of the National Women’s Team last August, will be the head coach at all events and camps while also serving as the head coach of PWHL Toronto. The duo will lead Canada through major international events such as the IIHF Women’s World Championship and Rivalry Series, culminating with the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy.

“We are thrilled to have Gina and Troy continue to lead our National Women’s Team through the 2026 Olympics and provide consistency to our program,” said Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of hockey operations. “While the landscape of women’s professional hockey has changed, Gina and Troy’s commitment to Hockey Canada while also holding important roles in the PWHL demonstrates the importance of our program and representing our country while growing the professional game.”

Kingsbury helped lead Canada’s National Women’s Team to back-to-back gold medals at the 2021 and 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championships, and added two silver (2018, 2023) and one bronze (2019) at Women’s Worlds. She also won silver and gold at the 2018 and 2022 Olympic Winter Games, respectively, and helped guide Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team to three gold medals (2019, 2022, 2023) at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, along with three silver (2016, 2018, 2020). Kingsbury also served as an assistant coach at the 2016 U18 Women’s Worlds, winning a silver medal.

“I am excited to return to the National Women’s Team and continue to work towards our collective goal of winning gold medals at the world championship and Olympics,” Kingsbury said. “While my role will look a little different than before, I continue to have the same amount of pride in wearing the Maple Leaf and I remain committed to helping build a team that Canadians can be proud to support over the next three seasons.”

Ryan has served as head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Team since 2020. He most recently won a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship, as well as gold medals at the 2021 and 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championships and 2022 Olympic Winter Games. As an assistant coach, Ryan earned a silver medal at the 2018 Olympics, silver at the 2017 IIHF Women’s World Championship and bronze at the 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship. He also won a silver medal as head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team at the 2017 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.

“It is an honour to represent my country, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to coach Canada’s National Women’s Team as we work towards defending our Olympic gold medal in 2026,” Ryan said. “Our players and staff are a world-class group, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside them as we represent Canada on the international stage.”

Canada’s National Women’s Team will take on the United States in the seven-game Rivalry Series across Canada and the U.S. throughout the 2023-24 season ahead of the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship, set for April 3-14 in Utica, New York.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

CALGARY, AB – Two-time Olympic and IIHF Women’s World Championship gold medallist Meaghan Mikkelson (St. Albert, AB) officially announced her retirement from international competition with Canada’s National Women’s Team on Sunday.

The 38-year-old made her debut with the National Women’s Team in 2008, winning back-to-back gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games in 2010 and 2014. She also added a silver medal at the 2018 Olympics, and finishes her career ranked third in goals and tied for fifth in all-time points by a Team Canada defender.

Mikkelson also wore the Maple Leaf at the IIHF Women’s World Championship eight times, winning two gold medals (2012, 2022) and six silver (2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017), while earning Top Defence honours and a place on the media all-star team in 2011. She also suited up at the 4 Nations Cup four times, winning two gold (2009, 2010) and two silver (2008, 2017). She made her program debut with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team in 2003, winning three-straight gold medals at the Air Canada Cup (2004, 2005, 2006).

While Mikkelson boasts an impressive career on the ice, her return to the national team after the births of her two children rank among her greatest accomplishments. She welcomed her son Calder in 2016 and daughter Berkley in 2019, making impressive comebacks and using her children as a source of inspiration towards the end of her career.

“This chapter of my life has been nothing short of a dream come true, filled with unforgettable moments, hard-fought victories and valuable lessons that have shaped me into the person I am today,” Mikkelson said. “Winning three Olympic medals and eight Women’s Worlds medals with Team Canada has been the ultimate honour. I am grateful for every opportunity I have had to represent our amazing country on the international stage, and it is a privilege I will cherish forever.”

Mikkelson played four seasons in the Western Women’s Hockey League, suiting up for the Calgary Oval X-Treme (2002-03), with whom she won the 2003 Esso Women’s Nationals, and the Edmonton Chimos (2007-09, 2010-11). She also played four seasons (2011-13, 2015-17) for the Calgary Inferno/Alberta HC of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, winning the Clarkson Cup in 2016 and earning CWHL Defenceman of the Year honours in 2016-17. Mikkelson also represented Alberta at the 2003 Canada Winter Games. 

Mikkelson played four seasons (2003-07) at the University of Wisconsin, winning back-to-back NCAA national championships (2006, 2007). In her final season with the Badgers, she led all NCAA defenders in scoring while being named a First Team All-American and WCHA Defensive Player of the Year.

“Thank you to Hockey Canada for the opportunity to wear the Maple Leaf, and for the incredible support through multiple comebacks and injuries. It has been the honour of my life to represent my country,” Mikkelson continued. “I am forever grateful for the honour of taking the ice with my teammates past and present. The bond that we share and the lessons we have learned together are the heart of my career, and I will cherish the memories and friendships forever.”

Prior to announcing her retirement, Mikkelson became involved in broadcasting in 2020, serving as an intermission analyst for the Edmonton Oilers. She was recently announced as the new radio colour commentator for the Calgary Flames, making her the first woman to hold the position with the Flames. In addition to her broadcasting responsibilities, Mikkelson is completing her master of business administration degree at the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.

“We wish Meaghan all the best in retirement, and we thank her for nearly 20 years of dedication to Hockey Canada and the National Women’s Program. Her relentless work ethic and constant pursuit of excellence throughout her career has helped push the women’s game to the next level,” said Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON), senior manager of scouting and player development. “Meaghan’s accomplishments on the ice speak for themselves. She was a tremendous player and teammate who had success at all levels, and we have no doubt her success as a player will translate into a long and successful broadcasting career.”

To view Mikkelson’s personal retirement announcement, please click here.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

The future of women’s hockey has never looked brighter.

When the Professional Women’s Hockey League officially launches its inaugural season in early 2024, it will mark a milestone for the game and for the women who helped pave the way.

But it will also be a watershed moment for the young girls who will watch with wonder as their heroines step onto to the ice, and who will dream of following in their footsteps in the years to come.

To celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, we asked some of the biggest names in the game one question:

With women’s hockey growing at an unprecedented rate, what advice do you have for young girls to ensure this is just the first step?

“Embrace believing in yourself and encouraging friends and teammates to do the same. Belief and confidence are things you have to work on every day, and the more we can help each other the better we will all be for it. Belief is contagious.”

-- Emily Clark

“Participation in hockey will help develop life skills that are valuable well beyond the ice, and those skills will transfer into developing future community and corporate leaders. Competing in the sport also has the potential to open up so many future opportunities in the game – we are now seeing careers as executives, and in coaching, scouting, data analytics and so much more. As the game grows both professional and globally, the opportunities to be a part of the game are exponential.”

-- Jayna Hefford

“Keep pushing the boundaries and never settle for less than what you deserve. We have made incredible steps over the past few years, but we still have long way to go. Keep fighting, keep pushing for the next generation, and always leave the game in a better state than when you started.”

-- Ann-Renée Desbiens

“Continue to work hard, dream big and never stop enjoying every time you lace up your skates. It’s unbelievable that young girls can aspire to play professionally with the best players from around the world.”

-- Courtney Birchard-Kessel

“The future is bolder and brighter than ever. Keep believing in yourself, keep believing that you belong and never forget that you can achieve anything you set your mind to if you consistently put in the work.”

-- Marie-Philip Poulin

“We’ve only just begun to see the potential in our sport, and I encourage young girls to find their joy in the game and keep it a part of their lives. Our sport is made better when we can keep those girls in the game as they grow up, becoming coaches, volunteers, managers, referees or maybe even professional players. It’s so exciting to know so many more doors are open for young girls to make hockey a lifelong passion.”

-- Brianne Jenner

“It’s essential to support young girls in pursuing their passion for sport, especially hockey. My advice to young girls is to develop a strong work ethic, set goals, stay committed to learning, seek role models, be a team player and – most importantly – have fun! The success of girls in women’s hockey today will inspire future generations and contribute to the ongoing growth of the game in a positive direction.”

-- Renata Fast

“Love the game. And then get one of your friends to love it, too. And then hopefully they get one of their friends to love it, too. Every once in a while you’re going to face some adversity, so just make sure you love it enough to plow right through that adversity.”

-- Cassie Campbell-Pascall

“To all the young players with dreams of playing for Team Canada or at the next level, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but what is most important is having fun. No matter what happens, win or lose, enjoy every moment you get to be on the ice.”

-- Jocelyne Larocque

“Never settle. Always go after what you want and what you deserve, regardless of what others think or say. Not everyone will believe in you, but you will turn heads, prove people wrong and leave the sport in a better place than when you found it. Be fearless!”

-- Blayre Turnbull

“Hockey is an amazing opportunity to meet new friends and stay involved in the sport we love. It allows us to have fun while building our confidence in hockey and in life. We are committed to making hockey a lifelong opportunity for young girls.”

-- Kori Cheverie

CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada, in partnership with USA Hockey, has announced the return of the Rivalry Series between Canada’s National Women’s Team and the United States for the 2023-24 season.

“We are excited to once again work with USA Hockey to showcase the talent and elite level of competition that has been on display at the Rivalry Series since 2018, and to bring games to fans in four great Canadian cities,” said Hockey Canada president and chief executive officer Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON). “The Rivalry Series is a marquee event on the Hockey Canada calendar not only for the incredible on-ice performances, but for the impact the games and our athletes leave on communities, and we look forward to hosting games and leaving a legacy in Ontario and Saskatchewan this season.”

The 2023-24 Rivalry Series will feature seven games, with Canada set to play host in Ontario and Saskatchewan in December and February, respectively. The first Canadian stop will see the cross-border rivals face off at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener, ON, home of the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. ET. Both teams will travel to Sarnia, ON, to play at Progressive Auto Sales Arena, home of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting, on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 5 p.m. ET.

“The return of the Rivalry Series this season marks another important step in the growth of our sport, and we are thrilled about the opportunity to play in two great cities in Ontario this season,” said Renata Fast (Burlington, ON/Toronto, PWHL). “Kitchener and Sarnia have proven to be amazing hockey cities, and we look forward to playing in front of passionate fans when we take on the Americans this December.”

The series will head west to Saskatchewan in February, with the teams meeting at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, SK, home of the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL), on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. CT. The Canadian portion of the Rivalry Series wraps up in Regina, with the teams clashing at the Brandt Centre, home of the WHL’s Regina Pats, on Friday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. CT.

“I am excited for my hometown and province to have the opportunity to host two Rivalry Series games this season, and I know the crowds in Regina and Saskatoon will be incredible,” said Emily Clark (Saskatoon, SK/Ottawa, PWHL). “Getting to watch Canada and the United States play live would have been a dream come true for me when I was younger. I am so happy that young players throughout Saskatchewan will have that opportunity, and I know these two games will inspire a lot of people.”

Tickets for the games in Kitchener, Sarnia and Regina will be available to the general public at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets starting Oct. 6, and are available starting under $30. Tickets for the game in Saskatoon will be available at a later date.

Hockey Canada and its Members will announce grassroots initiatives that will take place leading up to the Rivalry Series games in each Canadian community at a later date, ensuring the next generation of the game can engage with Canada’s National Women’s Team. 

The Rivalry Series will also include stops at Mullet Arena in Tempe, AZ, on Wednesday, Nov. 8, Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA, on Saturday, Nov. 11 and the Xcel Energy Centre in Saint Paul, MN, on Sunday, Feb. 11.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast all seven Rivalry Series games; please check local listings for details.

Last year’s Rivalry Series ended in thrilling fashion, with Canada’s National Women’s Team winning four-straight games to win the series after dropping the opening three games. The Canadian games welcomed an average attendance of approximately 5,000 fans per game in Kelowna, Kamloops, Trois-Rivières and Laval, including sell-outs in Kelowna and Trois-Rivières. Ottawa and Kingston also hosted Rivalry Series games in November 2021 that featured sold-out crowds.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

The inaugural Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Draft is in the books, and Canadian hockey was the star of the show.

In total, more than half of their players who were selected in Toronto – 48 of 90 (53.3%) – hail from the Great White North.

The list features representation from eight Members, and 43 players who have worn the Maple Leaf in international competition at some level (or all levels) of the National Women’s Program – nine Olympic gold medallists, 13 Women’s Worlds gold medallists and nine U18 Women’s Worlds gold medallists among them.

(Ten other Canadians – all of them Olympic gold medallists – were among the players who inked deals during the early free-agent signing period, and were not part of the draft pool. That contingent included Team Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin, 2022 Olympic MVP Brianne Jenner and standout goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens, among others.)

The run of Canadians started from the No. 2 pick, where Toronto selected veteran defenceman Jocelyne Larocque. She was the first of three first-rounders, along with fellow blue-liners Ella Shelton (No. 4 to New York) and Erin Ambrose (No. 6 to Montreal).

The first 🇨🇦 are off the board in the #PWHLDraft2023!

Voici les premières joueuses du 🇨🇦 sélectionnées au repêchage 2023 de la LPHF!

🍁 Jocelyne Larocque (2-TOR)
🍁 @ella_shelton11 (4-NY)
🍁 @ambrose_13 (6-MTL) pic.twitter.com/dFm0NUV2Q6

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) September 18, 2023

Each of the 15 rounds featured at least two Canadians, with a high of five going in Round 2. Toronto selected a Canadian with 13 of its 15 picks, followed by New York (11), Montreal (nine), Boston (seven), Ottawa (six) and Minnesota (two).

With the National Women’s Under-18 Championship set to return to the ice in November for the first time since 2019, its alumna were all over the draft; 42 players represented their province or region at the tournament.

CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY MEMBER

Ontario Women's Hockey Association (28) – Lexie Adzija, Erin Ambrose, Victoria Bach, Jaime Bourbonnais, Zoe Boyd, Emma Buckles, Michela Cava, Mellissa Channell, Elaine Chuli, Claire Dalton, Kristin Della Rovere, Jessica DiGirolamo, Jessie Eldridge, Loren Gabel, Brittany Howard, Sophie Jaques, Rebecca Leslie, Amanda Leveille, Emma Maltais, Kennedy Marchment, Kristin O’Neill, Jamie Lee Rattray, Ella Shelton, Natalie Spooner, Alexa Vasko, Kayla Vespa, Daryl Watts, Emma Woods

Hockey Quebec (7) – Ann-Sophie Bettez, Gabrielle David, Jade Downie-Landry, Élizabeth Giguère, Alexandra Labelle, Maude Poulin-Labelle, Audrey-Anne Veillette

Hockey Manitoba (5) – Ashton Bell, Kristen Campbell, Jocelyne Larocque, Corinne Schroeder, Kati Tabin

BC Hockey (2) – Olivia Knowles, Hannah Miller

Hockey Nova Scotia (2) – Allie Munroe, Jill Saulnier

Hockey Saskatchewan (2) – Brooke Hobson, Sophie Shirley

Hockey Alberta (1) – Jess Healey

CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

National Women’s Team (19) – Erin Ambrose, Victoria Bach, Ashton Bell, Ann-Sophie Bettez, Jaime Bourbonnais, Kristen Campbell, Jessie Eldridge, Loren Gabel, Élizabeth Giguère, Brittany Howard, Jocelyne Larocque, Rebecca Leslie, Emma Maltais, Kristin O’Neill, Jamie Lee Rattray, Jill Saulnier, Ella Shelton, Sophie Shirley, Natalie Spooner

National Women’s Development Team (41) – Lexie Adzija, Erin Ambrose, Victoria Bach, Ashton Bell, Ann-Sophie Bettez, Jaime Bourbonnais, Zoe Boyd, Emma Buckles, Kristen Campbell, Elaine Chuli, Maggie Connors, Claire Dalton, Gabrielle David, Kristin Della Rovere, Jade Downie-Landry, Jessica DiGirolamo, Jessie Eldridge, Loren Gabel, Jess Healey, Brooke Hobson, Brittany Howard, Sophie Jaques, Olivia Knowles, Alexandra Labelle, Jocelyne Larocque, Rebecca Leslie, Amanda Leveille, Emma Maltais, Hannah Miller, Allie Munroe, Kristin O’Neill, Jamie Lee Rattray, Jill Saulnier, Corinne Schroeder, Ella Shelton, Sophie Shirley, Natalie Spooner, Kati Tabin, Alexa Vasko, Audrey-Anne Veillette, Daryl Watts

National Women’s Under-18 Team (31) – Lexie Adzija, Erin Ambrose, Victoria Bach, Ashton Bell, Jaime Bourbonnais, Zoe Boyd, Emma Buckles, Kristen Campbell, Mellissa Channell, Elaine Chuli, Maggie Connors, Claire Dalton, Gabrielle David, Élizabeth Giguère, Jess Healey, Brooke Hobson, Sophie Jaques, Olivia Knowles, Alexandra Labelle, Rebecca Leslie, Emma Maltais, Hannah Miller, Kristin O’Neill, Jamie Lee Rattray, Jill Saulnier, Corinne Schroeder, Sophie Shirley, Natalie Spooner, Alexa Vasko, Audrey-Anne Veillette, Daryl Watts

CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada has unveiled the 46 players who will participate in the National Women’s Team September camp, presented by BFL CANADA, set for Sept. 11-16 at Canada Games Park in Thorold, ON.

Six goaltenders, 14 defence and 26 forwards were selected by Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, QC), vice-president of hockey operations, Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON), senior manager of player development and scouting, and head coach Troy Ryan (Spryfield, NS). Assistant coaches Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, NS), Caroline Ouellette (Montréal, QC/Concordia University, RSEQ) and Courtney Birchard-Kessel (Mississauga, ON/Boston University, HE), and goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, AB) also provided input.

“We are excited to unveil the 46 athletes who have earned invitations to our September camp in Thorold, and to hit the ice and begin preparations for the new season ahead,” Kingsbury said. “This a highly skilled group that combines veteran leadership with young talent, and we believe this group will push each other and provide us with the best opportunity to be successful in international competition throughout the year.”

The roster includes 20 players who won a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship (Ambrose, Bourbonnais, Campbell, Clark, Desbiens, Fast, Fillier, Jenner, Larocque, Maltais, Maschmeyer, Nurse, O’Neill, Poulin, Rattray, Serdachny, Shelton, Stacey, Thompson, Turnbull), and nine who were not a part of the world championship team but appeared in a Rivalry Series game in 2022-23 (Bach, Bell, Carter, Eldridge, Gabel, Giguère, Julia Gosling, Sarah Potomak, Saulnier). It also includes 13 players who suited up for Canada’s National Women’s Development Team for a three-game series against the United States in August 2022 (Adzija, Carter, Connors, Gardiner, Julia Gosling, Nicole Gosling, MacKinnon, Markowski, Osborne, Serdachny, Shirley) and three who played for Canada’s National Women’s Development Team last month (Cherkowski, Murphy, Swiderski).

The players will be split into two teams – Red and White – for practices, fitness testing, off-ice sessions and a pair of intrasquad games on Sept. 14 and 16. The National Women’s Team September camp, presented by BFL CANADA, will serve as a critical step towards preparation for international competition throughout the 2023-24 season, including the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Utica, NY, next spring.

The intrasquad game on Sept. 14 will be open to the public and free to attend. Tickets for the game on Sept. 16 will be available at Canada Games Park, while both games will be livestreamed for free on HockeyCanada.ca. Media representatives wishing to attend camp must apply for accreditation here.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.