RED DEER - Team Alberta has selected the group of 20 athletes representing Alberta at the 2023 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, November 5-11 in Dawson Creek, BC.
Two goaltenders, six defence and 12 forwards were selected for this year’s squad, which features six players who represented Alberta earlier this year at the 2023 Canada Winter Games. Those players are and forwards Paige Smith (Gibbons), Raedyn Spademan (Cochrane), Rylee Mcleod (Grande Prairie), Emelia McDermid (Airdrie) and Chloe Goofers (Leduc), and defence Makayla Watson (Rockyview County)
The team has representation from 17 different communities across Alberta - Calgary, Edmonton, Medicine Hat, Hythe, Ardrossan, Fort Saskatchewan, Carstairs, Red Deer, Rockyview County, Crossfield, Chestermere, Leduc, Bay Tree, Cochrane, Airdrie, Grande Prairie, and Gibbons.
Team Alberta’s selection process included the U18 Summer Camp in July in Red Deer with 72 players involved in on and off-ice sessions and eight scrimmages. A shortlist of 28 took part in the Team Alberta Fall Camp, September 22-24, in Edmonton which included three games against USports women’s teams.
Team staff members are Chris Leeming (Edmonton) Head Coach; Ashley Shrode (Barrhead) and Jessie Olfert (Edmonton) assistant coaches; Erin O’Toole (Lethbridge) Video Coach; Jane Kish (Medicine Hat) Goalie Coach; Erin Gordon (Edmonton) Athletic Therapist; Dave Campbell (Grande Prairie) Equipment Manager; and Kendall Newell (Red Deer) Director of Operations.
“There are so many talented athletes in this province that it made for some extremely difficult decisions,” said Newell. “We are confident that this group has what it takes to compete with the best from the rest of the country.”
Team Alberta, who is powered by Gatorade, will begin its tournament on November 5 against Quebec.
