CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Wednesday the 23 players who have been invited to Canada’s National Women’s Team training camp, scheduled for Jan. 26-30 at the Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau in Blainville, Que.

The camp roster includes two goaltenders, nine defencemen and 12 forwards.

Players will be on the ice for daily practices at camp, and will play a pair of exhibition games, against the Phenix du College Esther-Blondin (LHMAAAQ) on Jan. 27, and Seigneurs des Mille-Îles (Midget Espoir) on Jan. 29. All practices and games at Canada’s National Women’s Team training camp are open to the public and free of charge.

The camp will serve as an opportunity for Canada’s National Women’s Team coaching staff, led by head coach Doug Derraugh, and Hockey Canada’s team of scouts, led by general manager of women’s national team programs Melody Davidson, to check in with players midseason.

The evaluations will assist the coaching and scouting staffs in selecting the team that will represent Canada at the 2015 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Malmö, Sweden from March 28 to April 4.

“This camp is another great opportunity to have a look at players, build chemistry and see where we are as a team as we work towards Malmö,” said Derraugh. “There is so much depth in Canadian women’s hockey, so we need every chance we can get to see these players in action, get a look at them live mid-season, and begin to make decisions for the world championship.”

In addition to the 24 players attending camp, Laura Schuler has been added as an assistant coach alongside Derraugh, assistant coaches Tim Bothwell and Dwayne Gylywoychuk, and goaltending consultant Joe Johnston.

Schuler will be supported through the Coaching Association of Canada’s Women in Coaching National Team Apprenticeship Program, which provides professional development opportunities and support for female coaches moving into roles with Canada’s national teams. Since 2000, the program has invested in more than 50 female coaches.

The roster for Canada’s National Women’s Team training camp includes:

• nine players who won a gold medal with Canada’s National Women’s Team at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia (Fortino, Johnston, Lacasse, Larocque, Ouellette, Rougeau, Spooner, Watchorn, Wickenheiser);

• 14 players who won a gold medal with Canada’s National Women’s Team at the 2014 4 Nations Cup in Kamloops, B.C. (Birchard, Bram, Campbell, Fortino, Howe, Johnston, Kohanchuk, Lacasse, Larocque, Rattray, Rougeau, Spooner, Terry, Watchorn);

• seven players who won a gold medal with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team at the 2015 Nations Cup in Füssen, Germany (Cudmore, Davis, Fratkin, Howe, Terry, Warren, Wong);

• one player who won a silver medal with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team at the 2015 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship in Buffalo, N.Y. (Potomak).

NOTE TO MEDIA: Francis Dupont, Hockey Canada’s manager of communications, will be on site at Canada’s National Women’s Team training camp. He will be handling all interview requests and can be reached at 587-999-5681 or [email protected].

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, or follow through social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.twitter.com/hc_women.