30 players invited to Canada’s women’s Olympic team orientation camp
Many of today’s stars are ready to impress in order to have the chance to play at next year’s Winter Olympics.
On Friday, Hockey Canada released the names of 30 players who have been invited to the National Team Orientation Camp for later this month. The list includes 16 forwards, 10 defenders and four goaltenders. The group will be looking to wow Canada’s longtime staff – including general manager Gina Kingsbury and head coach Troy Ryan – to have the opportunity to don their country’s colors at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina.
The group has extensive championship experience on the international stage. 17 players invited to camp were on the gold-medal-winning team at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, with another 10 having been part of the squad that brought home the silver medal at the PyeongChang Games in 2018.
The usual suspects will be participating. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin and partner Laura Stacey are part of an experienced forward group that features Natalie Spooner and Brianne Jenner. The ever-talented and reigning PWHL Rookie of the Year, Sarah Fillier, is expected to go back to the Olympics as well.
Renata Fast, the PWHL Defender of the Year, headlines a D-corps that includes longtime teammate Jocelyne Larocque, as well as fellow star blueliners Ella Shelton, Erin Ambrose and Sophie Jaques.
The goaltending situation is mostly status quo, as Ann-Renée Desbiens and Emeranche Maschmeyer are expected to be the duo in Italy. However, the other two goaltenders invited to camp might catch people off guard. Eve Gascon, who served as Canada’s No. 3 at the Women’s Worlds, is back with New York Sirens netminder Kayle Osborne. Corinne Schroeder and Kristen Campbell, both of whom have experienced time with the senior national team, were not invited.
There is an exciting youth movement noted on the camp roster. Chloe Primerano and Caitlin Kraemer, stars previously with the Under-18 team, both will vie for Olympic roster spots for the first time. Primerano made her national team debut at the Rivalry Series last season, making the Women’s Worlds roster as well.
The women’s, men’s and para hockey camps are scheduled to take place from Aug. 26-28 in Calgary.