With Hockey Canada and USA Hockey beginning selection camps this weekend means only one thing.. The 2011 IIHF World Women's Championship is right around the corner!
As most of the players in the North American hockey landscape are scaling back and shutting down for the summer, these elite athletes are gathering to prepare to face off against the top players from six other nations to decide once again who will be the best team in the world. Before World's begins in Switzerland however, attention will turn to Ann Arbor, Michigan to see who will be the Gold Medal favorite as Canada and the United States square off in a two game exhibition series. The series is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, April 7-8 with both games played at 7pm ET at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube, home to the USA Men's NTDP.
Canada
Canada is selecting it's team in Toronto at the MasterCard Centre. Players have been divided into two teams, playing three inter squad games in addition to daily practices and off ice instruction. It's 36 athlete selection roster includes four goaltenders, twelve defenders, and 20 forwards. Sixteen of these athletes are 2010 Olympians, 21 participated in the 2010 Four Nations Cup, and fifteen played on Canada's silver medal winning team at the 2009 Worlds.
Seven members of the red team participated in the 2011 NCAA Women's Frozen Four last month in Erie, Pennsylvania. While three other's (Vicki Bendus, Bailey Bram, and Courtney Birchard) have NCAA ties. The red squad also features Olympic gold medal game winner Shannon Szabados who is joined by Laurier netmider Liz Knox. Caroline Ouellette, Cherie Piper, and Gillian Apps will likely serve as the red teams unofficial leaders.
The White team is made up of nine Olympians along with a number of others who are familiar names on the national team scene. Only teammates Lauriane Rougeau and Rebecca Johnston participated at last months Frozen Four, however McGill teammates Charline Labonté and Ann-Sophie Bettez one upped the Cornell duo with a CIS Championship this season. Team Canada mainstays Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Hefford, and Kim St-Pierre are sure to be this squad's leading voice.
The three game Red-White series will be played this Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday (April 3-5) with all games starting at 7:10pm. The team Canada will take to Worlds will have Wednesday off to travel to Ann Arbor.
United States
The United States team is holding it's preparations for Canada and World's at the aforementioned Ann Arbor Ice Cube. The 30 athlete US roster also features sixteen Olympians. And includes 16 players that participated in the 2010 Four Nations Cup, 15 players that won gold at the 2009 IIHF World Women's Championships, and 12 players that won gold as part of the US Under-18 World teams.
Seven players participated in the 2011 NCAA Women's Frozen Four last month in Erie, Pennsylvania. The NCAA Champion, University of Wisconsin is represented by three current Badgers as well as former Badgers Molly Engstrom and Jessie Vetter. WCHA foe Minnesota is represented by four current Gophers and former Gopher Gigi Marvin. Boston College has for Athletes participating including newbie world hopefuls and former U-18 members Blake Bolden and Taylor Wasylk.
While half of the 30 member camp is made up of collegians there are 10 post college athletes looking to maintain their roster spots. Seven of these athletes played in the CWHL this past season with Jule Chu holding bragging rights as a member of the CWHL Champion Montreal Stars. The US selection team also features five players with no collegiate experience as defender Michelle Picard and forwards Hannah Brandt (Minnesota), Alex Carpenter (Boston College), Kendall Coyne (Northeastern), and Amanda Pelkey (Vermont) look to add to there pre-collegiate resumes.
Check back with Beyond the Dashers for selection camp updates and coverage of the pre-world games from Ann Arbor.
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