OTTAWA – Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team will step on the ice for the first time on Thursday night when it faces the USA’s National Women’s Under-18 Team in the first game of a three-game exhibition series at the University of Ottawa. Games will also take place on Friday night and Sunday morning.

The National Women’s Under-18 Team was selected by head coach and National Women’s Teams general manager Melody Davidson, along with Wally Kozak, Hockey Canada’s head scout, National Women’s Teams, following the National Women’s Under-19 Program evaluation camp in Calgary in late July. The team has been practising in Ottawa since Sunday ahead of the series with the USA.

NOTE: Rayna Cruickshank (Cumberland, BC) was named to the team in July, but will be unable to play against the USA due to injury.

The series against the USA will be the first competition for the National Women’s Under-18 Team, which will host the inaugural IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship in January 2008 (site to be announced).

The National Women’s Under-18 Team is the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, which also includes the National Women’s Under-22 Team, and the National Women’s Team.