CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that Stanley Cup champion Misha Donskov (London, ON) has joined the organization as vice-president of hockey operations and men’s national teams coach, effective immediately.

Reporting to Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, Donskov brings National Hockey League (NHL) experience as an executive and coach to the organization and will be responsible for implementing the vision and strategies for Hockey Canada’s men’s, women’s and para hockey teams, and strengthen the alignment between the organization’s hockey operations and business operations staffs.

Donskov will also serve as head coach of Canada’s National Men’s Team at the IIHF World Championship, as assistant coach with the Men’s Olympic Team and as associate coach with Canada’s National Junior Team.

“We are thrilled to name Misha to his role today as he will play a critical role to ensure Canada’s national teams are set up for sustained success when representing our country on the world stage,” said Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), Hockey Canada’s president and chief executive officer. “Misha is a proven winner, collaborative leader and unwavering in his commitment to supporting our athletes, coaches and staff, and we know he will make Canadians proud throughout his work with Hockey Canada.

“We received a tremendous number of applications from candidates in Canada, across North America and around the world for this position and appreciate their interest in the role as part of the extensive recruitment process.”

Donskov recently completed his second season as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars after spending parts of four seasons as an assistant coach (2020-23) with the Vegas Golden Knights, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2023. Before joining the Golden Knights coaching staff, he was the team’s director of hockey operations for four seasons (2016-20). Internationally, Donskov has been part of a number of successful Canadian teams, including championships as an assistant coach at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He also won gold at two IIHF World Championships (2015, 2016) and one IIHF World Junior Championship (2015) as manager of hockey operations, analytics and video, and won the 2019 Spengler Cup as director of hockey operations and assistant coach as well as the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament as video coach.

Donskov spent five seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the London Knights (2009-12) and Ottawa 67s (2012-14), highlighted by an OHL championship as London’s assistant general manager and assistant coach in 2012. In addition to his coaching and management career, Donskov has extensive experience in hockey development, including previous NHL roles with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Atlanta Thrashers.

Prior to pursuing a full-time career in hockey, Donskov spent six years with Cardinal Health, a Fortune 500 global, integrated healthcare solutions company. He held roles of increasing responsibility in finance, sales, and sales management. He holds a master's degree in kinesiology with a specialization in coaching education from the University of Western Ontario.

“It is a tremendous honour to be trusted to serve as Vice President, Hockey Operations and National Men’s Teams Coach for Hockey Canada,” said Donskov. “I would like to thank the Hockey Canada Board, Katherine Henderson and Scott Salmond for this incredibly unique opportunity. Hockey Canada has played a significant role in my hockey journey and development — both personal and professional. I am excited to be returning to Hockey Canada to help support our world leading teams, programs and people. In addition, I would like to thank Tom Gaglardi, Jim Nill and Pete DeBoer for affording me the privilege to coach in the National Hockey League and be a part of the Dallas Stars family and organization.”

This is the second critical hockey operations staff announcement ahead of the 2025-26 international hockey season after Hockey Canada announced the hiring of Alan Millar (Tottenham, ON), the first full-time general manager of the Program of Excellence.

“Misha brings a coaching acumen and focus to Hockey Canada that our programs will benefit immensely from,” added Salmond. “With a full time general manager in Alan Millar and now the addition of Misha Donskov, we are in a great position as an organization moving forward.”

Additions to the Program of Excellence management group, as well as the coaching staffs, support staffs and rosters for the under-17, under-18 and under-20 programs will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Program of Excellence, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

TAMPERE, Finland – Canada’s National Women’s Development Team came up short in the gold medal game at the 2024 Women’s Euro Hockey Tour, falling 5-3 to the United States on Sunday.

“It has been an incredible experience for our group,” said head coach Alison Domenico (Ottawa, ON/University of Ottawa, OUA). “We had a couple of new players from summer camp, we saw a lot of progress from our four games together and I’m really happy with where we ended off.”

Canada jumped out to the early lead when Anne Cherkowski (Coldstream, BC/Clarkson University, ECAC) converted a shorthanded penalty shot at 17:56 of the first period.

The Americans would strike for three goals in a span of 4:28 in the second period to take a two-goal lead into the intermission, but Jocelyn Amos (Ailsa Craig, ON/Ohio State University, WCHA) and Alex Law (Brooklin, ON/Boston University, HE) brought Canada back even at 3-3 with less than six minutes to go before the U.S. retook the lead and added insurance into an empty net.

Canadian goaltender Ève Gascon (Mascouche, QC/University of Minnesota Duluth, WCHA) was terrific, finishing the game with 33 saves.

A full game summary is available here.

“I’m super proud of the group. In the dressing room between the second and third periods, we never lost belief in each other,” said Amos. “We came out and knew we had to battle and make a push for it right away, and I’m proud we managed to tie the game up. We’re a younger team; I thought the tournament was a good opportunity to prove ourselves and it’s always an honour to represent Canada.”  

Canada reached the gold medal game allowing just one goal in its first three games; it finished atop Group B in the preliminary round with wins over Sweden (2-1) and Czechia (3-0), and blanked host Finland 3-0 in the semifinals.

Amos finished as Canada’s leading scorer in the tournament with five points, including three goals, while Gascon fashioned a 1.69 goals-against average and .932 save percentage across her three appearances.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Development Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the 23 players who will wear the Maple Leaf with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team as part of the Women’s Euro Hockey Tour, Dec. 11-15 in Tampere, Finland.

Three goaltenders, seven defence and 13 forwards were selected by Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON), senior manager of scouting and player development, in consultation with head coach Alison Domenico (Ottawa, ON/University of Ottawa, OUA), as well as assistant coaches Rachel Flanagan (Pontypool, ON/Toronto, PWHL) and Tara Watchorn (Newcastle, ON/Boston University, HE), and goaltending consultant Katie Greenway (Guelph, ON/University of Guelph).

“The 23 players that will represent Canada are a testament to the depth we have within our program and our ongoing effort to continue developing our athletes at all levels,” Piper said. “The Women’s Euro Hockey Tour will give our staff a unique opportunity to assess our development athletes in international competition, and we look forward to watching these players compete in Finland and evaluating player growth this season.”

The roster includes eight players who captured gold at the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Madison, Wisconsin (Adam, Amos, Baxter, Henderson, Law, MacLeod, Murphy, Swiderski), as well as seven players  who won gold at the 2023 U18 Women’s Worlds in Östersund, Sweden (Amos, Baxter, Kraemer, Law, Murphy, Pais, Venusio) and three players (Kraemer, Murdoch, Venusio) who won bronze at the 2024 edition of the tournament in Zug, Switzerland.

The six-team tournament features Canada in Group B with Czechia and Sweden, while Group A includes Finland, Switzerland and the United States. Canada will open the Women’s Euro Hockey Tour against Sweden on Dec. 11 at 8 a.m. ET/5 a.m. PT and will take on Czechia to wrap up the preliminary round on Dec. 12 at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.

“The Women’s Euro Hockey Tour is a fantastic opportunity for our National Women’s Development Team to gain valuable experience on the international stage,” said Dylan Rockwell (Calgary, AB), senior manager of hockey operations. “This tournament will be an important step in the development and assessment of our athletes for the future of Team Canada looking ahead to the Olympic quadrennials in 2030 and 2034.”

Canada’s National Women’s Development Team will participate in the Women’s Euro Hockey Tour for the first time. With joint commitment from Czechia, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland, the December stop on the Women’s Euro Hockey Tour will feature Canada and the United States annually through 2028, aside from the 2026 Olympic year.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Development Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the rosters for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team selection camp, presented by BFL CANADA, and Canada’s National Women’s Development Team for its three-game series against the United States.

Forty-six players – six goaltenders, 14 defence and 26 forwards – have been invited to U18 selection camp, scheduled for Aug. 5-11 at Canada Games Park in Thorold, Ontario. The roster includes five players (Cimeroni, Grenier, S. Manness, Primerano, Zablocki) who captured a bronze medal at the 2024 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Zug, Switzerland.

The week-long camp will feature on- and off-ice training sessions and practices, as well as three Red-White games on Aug. 7-10. Once selected, Team Canada will play a three-game series against the United States, Aug. 14-17 at Canada Games Park.

“The selection camp is a crucial step as it serves as the first step in our program for this group of talented athletes. Our coaches and support staff are eager to begin guiding and developing these players,” said Vicky Sunohara (Scarborough, ON/University of Toronto, OUA), head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team. “We anticipate a high-level of competition during the camp as the players compete to earn a spot to represent Canada on the international stage during the series and beyond.”

Twenty-four players – three goaltenders, eight defence and 13 forwards – have been named to Canada’s National Women’s Development Team for its three-game series against the United States from Aug. 14-17 at Canada Games Park in Thorold.

The roster includes 10 players (Adam, Amos, Baxter, Grober, Iginla, MacLeod, Murphy, Pais, Regalado, Swiderski) who won gold at the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Madison, Wisconsin, and nine players (Alexander, Amos, Baxter, Graham, Grober, Kraemer, Murphy, Pais, Venusio) who won gold at the 2023 U18 Women’s Worlds in Östersund, Sweden.

“We are excited about the highly accomplished athletes that will join us with the development team this year as they return to the international stage against the United States,” said Alison Domenico (Ottawa, ON/University of Ottawa, OUA), head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Development Team. “Our coaching staff is very eager to work with this group, which includes a good mix of returning players as well as some new faces, as we continue their development as athletes in our program.”

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has unveiled the coaching staffs for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team and Canada’s National Women’s Development Team for the 2024-25 season, including three-game series against the United States in August.

Team Canada legend Vicky Sunohara (Scarborough, ON/University of Toronto, OUA) will take the reins as head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team, while Alison Domenico (Ottawa, ON/University of Ottawa, OUA) will lead Canada’s National Women’s Development Team behind the bench.

“We’re thrilled about the coaching staffs for the women’s development and under-18 programs that have joined us for the upcoming season,” said Dylan Rockwell (Calgary, AB), senior manager of hockey operations. “These steps in the program require a high-level of commitment from our coaches, who continue to return year after year to guide and develop our athletes. We look forward to the professionalism and skill the coaches will bring in leading our teams on the international stage this year.”

Following her role as an assistant coach during the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons, Sunohara will make her international head coaching debut. She will be joined by assistant coaches Marc-André Côté (Montreal, QC/University of Moncton, AUS) and Stefanie McKeough (Carlsbad Springs, ON/Boston, PWHL), as well as goaltending consultant Sheldon Goertzen (Saskatoon, SK/University of Saskatchewan, CW) and video coach Andrew Boucher (Timmins, ON).

Sunohara is entering her 14th season as head coach of the University of Toronto women’s hockey team, winning Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and U SPORTS Coach of the Year honours in three-consecutive seasons (2020-23) and leading the Blues to the U SPORTS national championship tournament in 2022 and 2023. Internationally, she won a gold medal as an assistant coach at the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship and bronze at the 2024 tournament. As a player, Sunohara won two Olympic gold medals and seven IIHF World Women’s Championship gold medals, and ranks 10th all-time in National Women’s Team scoring with 119 points (56-63—119) in 164 games.

Côté is entering his 13th season with the University of Moncton women’s hockey team, serving the last six seasons as head coach and the previous six as an assistant. He has also served as an assistant coach for a pair of three-game series against the United States, once with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team (2022) and once with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team (2023). As a player, Côté won a gold medal at the 2004 Junior World Cup with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team and bronze at the 2004 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with Quebec.

McKeough is entering her second season as an assistant coach with PWHL Boston, taking the role shortly after her appointment as head coach of the University of Ottawa women’s hockey team in 2023. She served as an assistant coach for the Gee-Gees for two seasons (2021-23), as well as head coach of Göteborg HC of the Svenka Damhockeyligen (SDHL) in Sweden during the 2020 season following two years as an assistant. Internationally, she captured a bronze medal at the 2024 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship as an assistant coach and a gold medal in 2023. As a player, McKeough won a silver medal with Canada at the 2009 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship.

Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team selection camp, presented by BFL CANADA, will take place Aug. 5-10 at Canada Games Park in Thorold, Ontario. Once selected, the team will play a three-game series against the United States, Aug. 14-17 at Canada Games Park.

For a full list of staff for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team and a list of camp support staff, please click here.

With Canada’s National Women’s Development Team, Domenico will make her international head coaching debut alongside assistant coaches Rachel Flanagan (Pontypool, ON/University of Guelph, OUA) and Tara Watchorn (Newcastle, ON/Boston University, HE), as well as goaltending consultant Katie Greenway (Guelph, ON) and video coach Jessie Leung (Penticton, BC/Okanagan Hockey Academy, CSSHL).

Domenico was recently named head coach of the University of Ottawa women’s hockey team after over a decade as an assistant coach in the NCAA with Ohio State University (2010-11), Syracuse University (2011-18) and Providence College (2018-21). Internationally, she has won gold medals as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Team at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games and 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship. As a player, she won gold with Ontario Red at the 2005 National Women’s Under-18 Championship and with Ontario at the 2003 Canada Winter Games.

Flanagan is an assistant coach with PWHL Toronto after serving 16 seasons as head coach of the University of Guelph women’s hockey team. During her tenure at Guelph, Flanagan led the Gryphons to a U SPORTS national championship in 2019, in addition to three OUA titles, and has been named the OUA Coach of the Year on five occasions. She previously served as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Team during the Rivalry Series in 2022-23, has been as an assistant with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team three times (2011, 2012, 2022) and was recognized as a BFL Female Coach of the Year in 2020-21.

Watchorn is entering her second season as head coach at Boston University after becoming the first head coach of Stonehill College’s women’s hockey team (2021-23), earning NEWHA Coach of the Year honours in the program’s inaugural season. Prior to joining Stonehill, Watchorn served as an assistant coach with Boston University for four seasons (2017-20). A 2014 Olympic gold medallist as a player, she was named head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team last year, earning a bronze medal at the 2024 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship after winning back-to-back gold medals as an assistant coach in 2022 and 2023.

Canada’s National Women’s Development Team will gather in Thorold, Ontario, for a three-game series against the United States from Aug. 14-17.

For a full list of staff for Canada’s National Women’s Development Team, please click here.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.

CALGARY, AB. – Hockey Canada has invited 71 players to participate in Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team selection camp, presented by BFL CANADA and Canada’s National Women’s Development Team training camp, presented by BFL CANADA, set to take place this August in St. Catharines, ON.

As part of the under-18 team selection camp, 46 players – six goaltenders, 14 defence and 26 forwards  – will compete for an opportunity to represent Canada in a three-game series against the United States, Aug. 14-20 in Lake Placid, N.Y. Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team invitees will be split into two teams – Red and White - for practices, intrasquad games and off-ice sessions. They will also welcome Finland’s national women’s under-18 team, giving the U18 group an opportunity to experience international competition.

Included in the U18 roster are nine 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship gold medallists – Mackenzie Alexander, Hannah Clark, Gracie Graham, Morgan Jackson, Caitlin Kraemer, Charlotte Pieckenhagen, Avery Pickering, Abby Stonehouse and Emma Venusio.

Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, QC), vice-president of hockey operations, led the player selection process in consultation with Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON), senior manager of player development and scouting.

“We are thrilled with this group of 46 talented athletes who will participate in selection camp,” Kingsbury said. “We are confident this group will come ready to compete for a spot to wear the Maple Leaf in international competition as we work towards winning a third-consecutive gold medal at the world championship.”

Twenty-three players – three goaltenders, seven defence and 13 forwards  – will also take to the ice in St. Catharines during the training camp for the development team, Aug. 9-13 ahead of its three-game series against the United States, Aug. 14-20.

The roster includes 12 players who won gold at U18 Women’s Worlds in 2022 or 2023 - Jocelyn Amos, Alexia Aubin, Jordan Baxter, Brooke Disher, Tova Henderson, Jade Iginla, Alex Law, Sarah MacEachern, Ava Murphy, Emmalee Pais, Alyssa Regalado and Sara Swiderski – and five players who were part of the development series against the U.S. last summer – Anne Cherkowski, Hannah Murphy, Sara Swiderski, Maddi Wheeler and Sarah Wozniewicz. Ashley Messier and Sarah Paul, who participated in the development series last summer, were invited but are unable to participate this year.

“We have an exciting group of accomplished athletes joining our development program this year in St. Catharines,” Kingsbury added. “We are looking forward to watching this group return to the ice for a competitive camp in preparation for our series against the United States.”

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

CALGARY, Alta. –Hockey Canada has unveiled the coaching staffs for Canada’s National Women’s Team, Canada’s National Women’s Development Team and Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team for the 2023-24 season, with seven alumnae among those behind the bench.

Troy Ryan (Spryfield, NS) returns for his fourth year behind the bench as head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Team, joined by assistant coaches Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, NS), Caroline Ouellette (Montreal, QC/Concordia University, RSEQ) and Courtney Birchard-Kessel (Mississauga, ON/Boston University, HE), as well as goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, AB) and video coach Andrew Boucher (Timmins, ON).

“We’re excited about the coaching staff, including a number of alumnae, we have assembled for our women’s programs for the upcoming season,” said Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, QC), vice-president of hockey operations. “We are grateful for the commitment many of our coaches make to return year after year to lead and develop our athletes, and look forward to the leadership and expertise they will bring in leading our teams on the international stage.”

Ryan recently became the first coach to serve on the coaching staff for both Canada’s National Men’s Team and Canada’s National Women’s Team, winning a gold medal as an assistant at the 2023 IIHF World Championship and silver as head coach at the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship. Ryan is going into his fifth season as head coach of the National Women’s Team after serving as an assistant coach for nearly four seasons (2016-19). Ryan coached Team Canada to back-to-back gold medals at the IIHF Women’s World Championship (2021, 2022), in addition to a gold medal at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. He also earned a silver medal at the 2018 Olympics, silver Women’s Worlds in 2017 and bronze in 2019.

Cheverie won a silver medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Team at the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship. She also added gold medals as an assistant at Women’s Worlds in 2021 and 2022, and at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Cheverie became the first woman to serve on the coaching staff with one of Canada’s national men’s teams at the 2022 IIHF U18 World Championship. Nationally, she won a silver medal as head coach of Team Nova Scotia at the 2023 Canada Winter Games, the province’s first-ever medal in women’s hockey. She was also the first woman hired as a full-time assistant coach in U SPORTS with the Ryerson University men’s hockey team for five seasons (2016-21).

Ouellette was recently announced as an honoured member of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023. In May, she was also inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Hall of Fame. She is entering her third season as the associate head coach at Concordia University. Internationally, she won a silver medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Team at the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship, along with gold in 2022 and bronze in 2019. As a player, she won four Olympic gold medals and six world championships during an illustrious 17-year international career.

Birchard-Kessel is entering her first year as an assistant coach at Boston University. Prior to joining BU, she spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Princeton University women’s hockey team (2019-23). She won a gold medal as head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team at the 2023 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, and gold as an assistant at U18 Women’s Worlds in 2019, and has been an assistant with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team on two occasions (2017, 2019).

Canada’s National Women’s Team will head to southern Ontario for its Fall Festival training camp from Sept. 10-17, in preparation for the 2023-24 season, which includes the Rivalry Series, with dates and locations to be announced in the future. The season will conclude with the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship, tentatively scheduled for April 2024 in Utica, New York.

For a full list of staff for Canada’s National Women’s Team and a list of camp support staff, please click here.

Cheverie returns as head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Development Team, alongside assistant coaches Rachel Flanagan (Pontypool, ON/University of Guelph, OUA) , Noémie Marin (Acton Vale, QC/John Abbott College, CEGEP) and Cassandra Turner (Campbellford, ON/Quinnipiac University, ECAC), as well as goaltending coach Sheldon Goertzen (Saskatoon, SK/University of Saskatchewan, CW) and Boucher as video coach.

Flanagan recently completed her 16th season as head coach of the University of Guelph women’s hockey team. During her tenure, Flanagan has led the Gryphons to a U SPORTS national title in 2019, in addition to three Ontario University Athletics (OUA) titles, and she has been named the OUA Coach of the Year on five occasions. She served as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Team during the Rivalry Series in December 2022, has served as an assistant with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team three times (2011, 2012, 2022) and was recognized as a BFL Female Coach of the Year in 2020-21.

Marin is entering her ninth season as the women’s hockey head coach at John Abbott College. She was previously the head coach of Kuper Academy (2012-14). Marin led the development team as head coach during the 2016-17 season and was an assistant with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team at the 2015 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. On the national stage, she was an assistant with Quebec at the 2015 National Women’s Under-18 Championship and led Quebec to silver as head coach at the 2019 Canada Winter Games.

Turner is entering her ninth season as head coach of Quinnipiac’s women’s hockey team, having led the Bobcats to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament in each of the last two seasons. In 2015-16, her first season as head coach, she led the team to 30 wins, an NCAA record for wins by a first-year women’s hockey head coach. Turner captured a silver medal as head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team at the 2015 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, and won gold as an assistant in 2014.

Following her role as an assistant coach during the 2022-23 season, Tara Watchorn (Newcastle, ON/Boston University, HE) takes the reins as head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team. She will be joined by assistant coaches Stefanie McKeough (Carlsbad Springs, ON/University of Ottawa, OUA) and Vicky Sunohara (Scarborough, ON/University of Toronto, OUA) , as well as goaltending coach Gord Woodhall (Winnipeg, MB/Winnipeg, MFHL) and video coach Stef Thomson (Oshawa, ON)

Watchorn was named head coach of Boston University in April, becoming the first alumna of the women’s program to serve as its head coach. She served as the first head coach of Stonehill College’s women’s hockey team (2021-23), earning NEWHA Coach of the Year honours in the program’s inaugural season. Prior to joining Stonehill, Watchorn served as an assistant coach with BU for four seasons (2017-20). A 2014 Olympic gold medallist as a player, she won back-to-back gold medals as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in 2022 and 2023.

McKeough recently completed her third season as an assistant coach with the University of Ottawa women’s hockey team. Prior to joining the Gee-Gees, she served as head coach of Göteborg HC of the Svenka Damhockeyligen (SDHL) in Sweden during the 2020 season following two years as an assistant. As a player, McKeough won a silver medal with Canada at the 2009 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship.

Sunohara is entering her 13th season as head coach of the University of Toronto women’s hockey team, winning both OUA and U SPORTS Coach of the Year honours in three consecutive seasons (2020-23) and leading the Blues to the OUA championship last spring. She won a gold medal as an assistant coach at the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. Internationally, Sunohara won two Olympic gold medals in addition to seven world championship golds, and ranks 10th in all-time Team Canada scoring with 119 points (56-63—119) in 164 career games.

Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team will gather in St. Catharines, Ont., for selection camp from Aug. 9-13 in advance of a three-game series against the United States, Aug. 14-20 in Lake Placid, New York. It will chase a third-consecutive gold medal at the 2024 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Switzerland, Jan. 6-14.

For a full list of staff for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team and a list of camp support staff, please click here.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

CALGARY, Alta. – Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team completed a series sweep with a 7-2 win over the United States, while Canada’s National Women’s Development Team fell 2-1 to the U.S. in the final game of its series.

Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team

• Keira Hurry (London, Ont./London, OWHA U22 Elite) lead the way with two goals, including the first of her international career.
• Abby Stonehouse (London, Ont./London, OWHA U22 Elite) also netted her first Team Canada goal.
• Jocelyn Amos (Ailsa Craig, Ont./London, OWHA U22 Elite) registered a goal and an assist.
• Mackenzie Alexander (Toronto, Ont./Etobicoke, OWHA U22 Elite), Alexia Aubin (Lévis, Que./Stanstead College, JWHL) and Caitlin Kraemer (Kitchener, Ont./Kitchener, OWHA U22 Elite) rounded out the scoring.
• Piper Grober (Toronto, Ont./Durham West, OWHA U22 Elite), Ava Murphy (Kitchener, Ont./ Oakville, OWHA U22 Elite) and Abby Lunney each recorded three assists.
• Emma Venusio (Toronto, Ont./Etobicoke, OWHA U22 Elite) chipped in with a helper.
• Hannah Clark (Ajax, Ont./Etobicoke, OWHA U22 Elite) made 27 saves.

Full game stats are available at HockeyCanada.ca. 

Canada’s National Development Team

• Sophie Shirley (Saskatoon, Sask./University of Wisconsin, WCHA) scored the lone goal.
• Ashley Messier (Wilcox, Sask./Syracuse University, CHA) and Stephanie Markowski (Edmonton, Alta./Cornell University, ECAC) recorded an assist each.
• Raygan Kirk (Ste. Anne, Man./Ohio State University, WCHA) made 18 saves before giving way to Kayle Osborne (Rideau Lakes, Ont./Colgate University, ECAC), who made 12 stops.
  
  

Full game stats are available at HockeyCanada.ca.

Quotes:

“We wanted to do what we’ve done the last two games - come out with speed, apply pressure and play as a team. That is exactly what we did. It was so nice to see a lot of different players get goals today. We won the series and we will celebrate today, but tomorrow we go back to work. If we bring the same game we had today [to women’s U18 worlds in December] we are going to be successful because we care about each other and want each other to be successful.”

-         Under-18 head coach Courtney Kessel (Mississauga, Ont./Princeton University, ECAC) on completing the series sweep

“It is a great feeling to win, [the sweep] shows how tight knit of a group we are. We have been really close and brought energy to every game. Everyone was buzzing, we got a lot of offence going all game. We did not spend a lot of time in our [defensive] zone, which created opportunities for us. The scoreboard shows that we were able to capitalize on those [opportunities].”

-         Grober on finding offence in the last game of the series

“After I scored, I was jumping up and down, celebrating with my teammates from London. I have no words, really. I was pumped. We are a tight group; we all pump each other up. The past three weeks have been the best experience of my life, it was a dream come true when I heard that I made the team. We have a great group here; I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

-         Stonehouse on scoring her first international goal

“The vibe from our group was outstanding today. Anytime you can play against the [United States] it’s going to be a close, hard-fought battle. We lost the game, but I could not be more proud of the effort we put forth. [Our players] were doing everything that we wanted them to do. They were trying things, working on the concepts we talked about. Their effort was there. Unfortunately, we did not get that game-tying goal but it did not come without the effort.”

-         Development head coach Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, N.S.) on her team’s effort in the final game of the series

“Coming to camp has been a really good experience. I had a great experience in the dressing room and getting to know my teammates. Our group stayed together. We got better in that third game as it went on. I know our coaches were really happy with our effort and fight. Every girl on our team left it all out there. We wanted it, but it just was not our day today. I know in the future we are going to give [the United States] another really tough battle.”

-          Sara Swiderski (Langley, B.C./Clarkson University, ECAC) on coming up short in the third game

“It was such a hard-fought series; we left it all out there each game. I’m super proud of this group. We never gave up, especially today. It shows what it means to wear the Maple Leaf. There was lots of energy today, which was awesome to see. The character in the locker room showed, you could see the resiliency, the work ethic, the camaraderie. We really rallied together, which is what makes it fun to play hockey.”

-         Megan Carter (Milton, Ont./University of British Columbia, CW) on the feeling in the locker room

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Development and Under-18 Teams, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

CALGARY, Alta. – Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team secured a series win against the United States with a 4-0 victory while Canada’s National Women’s Development Team dropped the second game of its series 4-1 to the U.S.

Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team

• Abby Lunney (Newmarket, Ont./Central York, OWHA U22 Elite) scored the first goal of her international career while Caitlin Kraemer (Kitchener, Ont./Kitchener, OWHA U22 Elite), Jordan Baxter (New Westminster, B.C./Delta Hockey Academy, CSSHL) and Emmalee Pais (London, Ont./London, OWHA U22 Elite) also found the back of the net.
• Keira Hurry (London, Ont./London, OWHA U22 Elite), Mackenzie Alexander (Toronto, Ont./Etobicoke, OWHA U22 Elite), Piper Grober (Toronto, Ont./Durham West, OWHA U22 Elite) and Jaimee Spring (Cranbrook, B.C./Rink Hockey Academy, CSSHL) all registered an assist.
• Arianne Leblanc (Terrebonne, Que./Stanstead College, JWHL) made 25 saves for her first international shutout.
  
  

Full game stats are available at HockeyCanada.ca. 

Canada’s National Development Team

• Maggie Connors (St. John’s, N.L./Princeton University, ECAC) provided the lone goal.
• Danielle Serdachny (Edmonton, Alta./Colgate University, ECAC) and Sophie Shirley (Saskatoon, Sask./University of Wisconsin, WCHA) each contributed with an assist.
• Hannah Murphy (Bradford, Ont./Colgate University, ECAC) finished with 33 stops.
  
  

Full game stats are available at HockeyCanada.ca.

Next Games:

Under-18: Canada vs. United States – Saturday, August 20 (6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT)
Development: Canada vs. United States – Saturday, August 20 (9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT)

Quotes:

“We committed to the game plan. We were aggressive on our forecheck while maintaining a great backcheck and still brought the same energy and aggressiveness [as yesterday]. LeBlanc held in there and made some fantastic saves. We wouldn’t be where we are without her. We do not want to leave here with just two [wins], we are going for that third win on Saturday.”

-         Under-18 head coach Courtney Kessel (Mississauga, Ont./Princeton University, ECAC) on shutting out the Americans

“My teammates were there for me when I needed them, [they] blocked a couple of hard shots and passes on two-on-ones. It still feels unreal, I cannot believe I played my first game in the Maple Leaf. I tried to take it as a normal game, shot by shot. As the minutes ticked down it felt so good and when [the clock] hit zero I was just happy to celebrate with my teammates.”

-         Leblanc on posting a shutout

“We have lots of support and trust with each other. We know how to move the puck around great. It has been a couple of great team wins so far; we are together in everything. We are definitely looking for another team win, focusing on our habits and bringing it to the [United States].”

-         Kraemer on the full team effort

“We need to re-group tomorrow and establish good habits. Sticking to our habits and executing is what makes our team so great. Our execution was not there tonight. This group has fought hard for the past two weeks. They deserve to be here and know the magnitude of this opportunity. We have not won a series against the United States in the past four years. It is important to win these opportunities.”

-         Development head coach Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, N.S.) on getting back on track for the series finale

“On Saturday we need to work on our consistency and keeping our work ethic the whole time. In the room, the main message is that we have an opportunity here. We have an opportunity to represent Canada and go into the third [deciding] game against the Americans. We have a great chance to win it here on Saturday.”

-          Connors on the changes needed heading into the series-deciding game

“They played hard. Talking in the room, we had blips of greatness but the key is doing that consistently. That’s something we did not do tonight. Moving forward we are ready to learn from [tonight] and move on. Any time you can play against the United States, those are games you want to play in. I always feel proud to get to play in these games and do my best to make the most of it.”

-         Shirley on the opportunity to play against the Americans

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Development and Under-18 Teams, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

CALGARY, Alta. – Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team tied the game in the final minute of the third period before besting the United States in the seventh round of the shootout, securing a 6-5 win in its series opener, while Canada’s National Women’s Development Team also needed a shootout to capture a 4-3 win in the first game of its series against the U.S. Wednesday night.

Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team

• Jocelyn Amos (Ailsa Craig, Ont./London, OWHA U22 Elite) scored the game-tying goal with just over 40 seconds to go in the third period and added two assists.
• Caitlin Kraemer (Kitchener, Ont./Kitchener, OWHA U22 Elite) had a goal and an assist.
• Emma Venusio (Toronto, Ont./Etobicoke, OWHA U22 Elite), Charlotte Pieckenhagen (Toronto, Ont./Mississauga, OWHA U22 Elite) and Mackenzie Alexander (Toronto, Ont./Etobicoke, OWHA U22 Elite) rounded out the scoring with a goal each.
• Alex Law (Markham, Ont./Durham West, OWHA U22 Elite), Jordan Baxter (New Westminster, B.C./Delta Hockey Academy, CSSHL) and Morgan Jackson (Courtenay, B.C./Vancouver Island, BCEHL) all chipped in with an assist.
• Abby Lunney (Newmarket, Ont./Central York, OWHA U22 Elite) found the back of the net twice in the shootout, including the game-winner in the seventh round.  
• Farah Walker (Calgary, Alta./Okanagan, CSSHL) made seven saves in the Canadian goal before giving way to Hannah Clark (Ajax, Ont./Etobicoke, OWHA U22 Elite), who made five saves in relief and earned the win.

Full game stats are available at HockeyCanada.ca. 


Canada’s National Development Team

• Danielle Serdachny (Edmonton, Alta./Colgate University, ECAC) led the way with a pair of goals in regulation, and also scored in the shootout.
• Julia Gosling (London, Ont./St. Lawrence University, ECAC) contributed a goal in the second period and scored the game-winner in the fifth round of the shootout.
• Lexie Adzija (St. Thomas, Ont./Quinnipiac University, ECAC), Maddi Wheeler (Erinsville, Ont./University of Wisconsin, WHCA) and Ashley Messier (Wilcox, Sask./Syracuse University, CHA) each provided an assist.
• Kayle Osborne (Rideau Lakes, Ont./Colgate University, ECAC) made 33 saves.

Full game stats are available at HockeyCanada.ca.

Next Games:

Under-18: Canada vs. United States – Thursday, August 18 (6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT)
Development: Canada vs. United States – Thursday, August 18 (9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT)


Quotes:

“We played super aggressive; our forecheck was fantastic all game and I think that’s what led to all of our opportunities. We had pretty much every kind of situation thrown [at us], which is great as a staff to work through. We need to bring the same energy we brought today and play 60-minute games moving forward.”

-         Under-18 head coach Courtney Kessel (Mississauga, Ont./Princeton University, ECAC) on the series opener

“Our team really stuck together and that really helped us. We kept the energy high on the bench and I think all of our hard work translated to that goal. We were all really excited when we saw it go in, there was a dog pile on the ice which was fun. We are just going to keep getting better from here; our pressure was insane throughout the game, so we are climbing the ladder.”

-         Amos on scoring the game-tying goal with 40 seconds to go

“It was really exciting. I’ve never played in that high-level of a game before, so it felt great [to tie the game]. Hannah Clark was telling me to just make my move, so I listened to my goalie and it helped me. We need to keep working hard in practice, in cooldown, in warmup, whatever it is and that will help us moving forward.”

-         Lunney on her team tying the game late in the third and her success in the shootout

“We showed growth in that first game; we didn’t have the best start but we had some important conversations during the television timeouts that turned the tides for us. This group takes ownership for their play and the second half of the game was unreal. I felt pretty passionate during the game, the girls were doing everything they could to help us win. It is always special getting a win.”

-         Development head coach Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, N.S.) on getting the first win of the series


“I liked the resiliency of our group, even with the late goal [against] at the end, we never stopped believing in ourselves which is what got us the win at the end. We have some great leaders in our group, I’m learning from them every day. We need to keep the same game plan, focus on our habits with our penalties and power plays and I think we will be good.”

-          Gosling on what it took to get the win

“It is always a good, competitive game playing the U.S. We didn’t get down after that first goal and that was important for us. We need to bring a lot of energy, both teams will be tired as it is a competitive series. Being supportive with teammates and lifting each other up will be huge [moving forward].”

-         Serdachny on the win and what is needed tomorrow

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Development and Under-18 Teams, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.