May 15, 1996
NR.040

NEW NATIONAL WOMEN'S UNDER-19 TEAM PROGRAM LAUNCHED

OTTAWA - Canadian Hockey announced today the coaching staff and players who will represent Canada on the first national women's under-19 team in a three game series against Team USA in Lake Placid, New York, July 6-10, 1996.

"This marks another step forward for high performance programming and an investment in our future in international women's hockey," said Bob Nicholson, Canadian Hockey senior vice-president of hockey operations. "We took the national women's program to another level last fall with the first evaluation camp for over 50 players, and this new initiative will further strengthen Canada's leadership role in the development of women's hockey."

Nicholson noted that the national under-19 women's team program will offer opportunities for younger players to develop their game at a higher level, and just as important, to get that invaluable experience at the international level.

The coaching staff is made up of head coach Danièle Sauvageau of St. Eustache, Quebec, and assistant coaches Julie Healy of Montreal and Karen Hughes of Agincourt, Ontario. Sauvageau and Healy were also assistant coaches with the women's senior national team last year, while Hughes debuted with Team Canada at this year's Women's Pacific Championship, which the Canadian squad won gold.

The training and game schedule at the Olympic Arena in Lake Placid is as follows:
July 6 - Practice, 6:15 to 7:45 pm
July 7 - Practices, 10:15 to 11:45 am, and 6:15 to 7:45 pm
July 8 - Practice, 10:15 to 11:45 am; Game vs USA at 7 pm
July 9 - Practice, 10:15 to 11:45 am; Game vs USA at 7 pm
July 10 - Game vs USA at 3 pm

Following recommendations from all provincial bodies and evaluations carried out by the national coaching pool, the following players were selected:

GOALTENDERS (2) - Tania Pinelli, Hamilton, Ont.; Teri Turner, Carstairs, Alta.

DEFENDERS (6) - Virginie Bilodeau, St. Etienne-de-Lauzon, Que.; Isabelle Chartrand, Ville Anjou, Que.; Cindy Klassen, Winnipeg, Man.; Melissa Laflamme, St. Claire Bellechasse, Que.; Lyne Landry, Saint-Joseph, N.B.; Melanie Roach, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

FORWARDS (12) - Lisa Backman, Thunder Bay, Ont.; Nicole Beare, Carman, Man.; Kelly Bechard, Sedley, Sask.; Collette Bredin, Warburg, Alta.; Coley Dosser, Jarvis, Ont.; Valerie Hamel, Danville, Que.; Caroline Ouellette, Montreal; Lara Perks, Trenton, Ont.; Amanda Smith, Hanover, Ont.; Kristin Suurkask, Delta, B.C.; Michele Thornton, Gloucester, Ont.; Sommer West, Bowmanville, Ont.

Provincial representation - New Brunswick (1); Quebec (5); Ontario (8); Manitoba (2); Saskatchewan (1); Alberta (2); British Columbia (1).