Canada Games Park will host six-day/two-intrasquad game camp. Pictured: Ottawa PWHL Captain Brianne Jenner (second from left). Photo Credit: Brianne Jenner/X.
Hockey Canada has invited 48 of the nation’s best players to Canada’s National Women’s Team September Camp, presented by BFL CANADA, starting today and running through Sunday at Canada Games Park in Thorold.
Six goaltenders, 16 defence and 26 forwards were selected by general manager Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, QC/Toronto, PWHL), senior manager of player development and scouting Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON) and head coach Troy Ryan (Spryfield, NS/Toronto, PWHL). Assistant coaches Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, NS/Montréal, PWHL), Caroline Ouellette (Montréal, QC/Concordia University, RSEQ) and Britni Smith (Port Perry, ON/Syracuse University, CHA), and goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, AB/Toronto, PWHL) also provided input on player selections.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to evaluate the depth of talent in our player pool and set the tone for the upcoming season,” said Kingsbury. “We will also continue to grow and build on our identity as a team as we prepare for the Rivalry Series and ultimately the IIHF Women’s World Championship next April in Czechia.”
The roster includes 21 players who helped Canada capture its 13th gold medal at the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship, including St. Catharines raised Brianne Jenner, who recently joined the Niagara Sports Report on Newstalk 610 CKTB.
“It’s perfect, I’m so happy that we’re coming back here,” said Jenner when asked about the facilities at Canada Games Park, and essentially coming home back to Niagara.
“It’s been home for a lot of camps for Hockey Canada, and obviously I’m a little bit biased coming back to the Niagara Region, I love coming home.”
Jenner, who is also captain of Ottawa’s PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) franchise, hopes to have some time this week to take her Team Canada teammates out to her favorite restaurant – Lina Linguini’s in St. Catharines.
“It’s a busy week but we really look forward to it,” Jenner continued. “Any time we get to spend together as teammates, and to get to know some of the young players, and the players coming up, it’s a real special week for us, our group especially really looks forward to it and it sees it more than just another training camp.”
Fort Erie native Matt Desrosiers, who is the head coach at NCAA Clarkson University, will serve as a coach this week, while Brock University-educated Strength and Conditioning Coach Vicki Bendus and Brock educator Victoria Bach are the other locally connected or invitees attending training camp.
The players will be split into Red and White teams for practices, fitness testing and a pair of intrasquad games on Sept. 12 and Sept. 14.
Brock University will be hosting a day of hockey on Sept. 14, including the Red-White game at Canada Games Park.
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Following camp week, players will prepare for the season with their PWHL and college teams before a roster is named for the first international competition of the season, the 2024-25 Rivalry Series starting Nov. 6 in San Jose, California.
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, visit HockeyCanada.ca
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
