CALGARY, ALBERTA – Head coach Karen Hughes named Canada’s National Women’s Team roster for the upcoming 2003 4 Nations Cup in Sweden, from November 5-9, 2003.  This roster announcement follows the five-day Team Canada Thanksgiving Festival in Dartmouth, NS from October 7-12, and represents the first step in an ongoing evaluation process leading towards the 2004 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship.

Canada’s 4 Nations Cup roster is a development and evaluation roster.  During the 2003-04 season, and over the course of the next two seasons, Canada will name different rosters for camps and events.  Over the course of the 2003-04 season, head scout Wally Kozak and the National Women’s Team coaching staff (Head Coach Karen Hughes, assistant coaches Ken Dufton and Doug Lidster) will evaluate and monitor players that attended the Thanksgiving Festival as well as other players prior to naming a final World Championship roster in February. 

The 2003 4 Nations Cup marks Canada’s first and only international competition during the 2003-04 season prior to the 2004 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship.  Players and staff will be departing for Sweden on November 2nd.

Canada will be facing National Women’s Teams from Finland, Sweden and USA at the 2003 Four Nations Cup.  Since the Nations Cup (previously the Three Nations Cup, now the Four Nations Cup) started in 1996, Canada has won seven of eight events, including the 2002 Four Nations Cup in Kitchener, ON.

“The Thanksgiving Festival in Dartmouth this past week was a terrific start to our season,” said Head Coach Karen Hughes.  “It continues to be clear to us that we have great depth in the program and a number of players challenging for positions again this season.  The 2003 Four Nations Cup will be a very competitive event and we’re looking forward to the challenge and an excellent opportunity to evaluate our players at this level.”

Canada’s 4 Nations Cup roster includes thirteen Olympic gold medalists as well as fifteen players from Canada’s National Under-22 Program.  Three players (Annie Desrosiers, Carla MacLeod, Sarah Vaillancourt) will be making their international debuts with Canada’s National Women’s Team in Sweden.  A final World Championship roster will not be named until February 2004.

The 2004 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship is in Canada this season, with Halifax, NS hosting the best women’s hockey players in the World from March 30-April 6, 2004.