CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada announced today the coaching staff for the National Women’s Under-22 Team’s 2007 European Air Canada Cup, a six-country event, to be held January 3-7, 2007 in Ravensburg, Germany.

Nancy Wilson (Langley, BC/BC Hockey) has been named head coach for the event, while Dan Church (Toronto, ON/York University, CIS) and Doug McLeod (Lethbridge, AB/University of Lethbridge, CIS) will join Wilson behind the bench as assistant coaches. Al three coaches were chosen from Canada’s National Women’s program coaching pool, selected from an 11-member group of coaches, first announced by Hockey Canada in June.

Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team roster for this event will be announced in early December. This will mark the second event that the U22 team has participated in this season, having played the USA’s National Under-22 Team in August in Ottawa, with Canada winning two of the three games.

“The Under-22 team is a very important step in the National Women’s program, and we feel that we’re putting the team in very capable hands,” said Melody Davidson, head coach/general manager of Canada’s National Women’s Team. “We’re excited for the trip to Germany, and what should be a rewarding experience for everyone involved with our team, while at the same time, providing an excellent field for player evaluation, experience and development.”

Wilson, an a provincial coach with BC Hockey, is in her third season as a coach with the National Women’s Under-22 Team, having served as an assistant coach in 1999--01. She was an assistant coach with the U22 team for its three-game exhibition series against the USA in Ottawa, ON in August, 2006. Wilson served as head coach of Team BC at the 2003 Canada Winter Games, and has also been head coach of the Vancouver Griffins (NWHL) and BC Breakers (WWHL), and was an assistant coach with the Langley Hornets (BCHL).

“I am very excited to be involved with Canada’s National Women’s program once again,” Wilson said. “It’s a terrific opportunity to work with such a highly skilled and highly motivated group of players and staff.”

Church, head coach of the York University (CIS) women’s hockey team, is in his first season with the National Women’s Under-22 Team. He was an assistant coach with the U22 team for its three-game exhibition series against the USA in Ottawa, ON in August, 2006, his first experience with the National Women’s program. Before taking the head job at York, Church was a long-time assistant coach at the University of Toronto, winning a CIS national title in 2001.

The 2007 European Air Canada Cup will be the first National Women’s program competition for Doug McLeod, head coach of the University of Lethbridge (CIS) women’s hockey team. While this will be his first international experience, McLeod was a member of the coaching staff at the U22 camp prior to their exhibition series with the USA in August, and also at the National Women’s Team Fall Festival in Kenora, ON in September. During his time with the U of L, McLeod won a CIAU national title as an assistant coach with the men’s hockey team in 1994.

Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team has won the European Air Canada Cup in all four years of its existence, losing only once in 12 games. This year, teams from Japan, Finland, Russia, Switzerland, and Germany will join the Canadians.

2007 EUROPEAN AIR CANADA CUP (all times local, schedule subject to change)

Wednesday, January 3 – Canada vs. Japan, 20:00

Friday, January 5 – Canada vs. Germany, 20:00

Saturday, January 6 – Semi-Final, TBD

Sunday, January 7 – Gold Medal Game, TBD

Note: There will be no television or radio coverage of these games; however, results will be posted online at www.hockeycanada.ca.

For more information on the National Women’s Under-22 Team and the 2007 European Air Canada Cup, visit www.hockeycanada.ca.