Canada Evaluation Camp Showcases Vaillancourt and Botterill

Jennifer Botterill (l) and Sarah Vaillancourt. Photo courtesy of Hockey Canada

CALGARY, AB -- Harvard senior forward Sarah Vaillancourt '08-09, the 2008 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recipient, and former Crimson standout Jennifer Botterill '01-03, the nation's only two-time Patty Kazmaier Award winner (2001 and 2003), are among 41 of the top female hockey players who were invited to Canada's National Women's Team evaluation camp from Sept. 17-21, 2008, Hockey Canada announced.

Botterill has won three medals with Team Canada during the Olympics, including a gold at Salt Lake City in 2002, another gold at Torino in 2006, and a silver in Nagano at the 1998 games. Vaillancourt was also a member of Canada's gold-medal squad in 2006.

The camp will be used to determine which athletes will be part of the group that will work towards the 2009 IIHF World Women's Championship and Olympic centralization. In February 2009, 22 players will be selected to play for Canada at the 2009 IIHF World Women's Championship. In the summer of 2009, up to 30 athletes will move to Calgary as part of centralization to train and work towards the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC.

The September camp is the first of several camps that Hockey Canada will hold throughout the year (see below for more information). The camp roster includes four goaltenders, 15 defencemen and 22 forwards.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SEPTEMBER CAMP ROSTER

Two players - forwards Brianne Jenner (St. Catharines, ON/Mississauga, CWHL) and former Dartmouth standout Katie Weatherston (Thunder Bay, ON/Montreal, CWHL) - were invited to the camp but are unable to participate due to injuries.

"The week will be an evaluation of players who are working towards the 2009 IIHF World Women's Championship and final Olympic centralization roster," says Melody Davidson, head coach of the National Women's Team. "It's therefore an important week for these players as we will be selecting our player pool as we look ahead to the next two years."

At the September evaluation camp, the players will be divided into two teams - Team Red and Team White. The two teams will face Midget AAA teams from the Calgary area in a tournament, with each team playing four games. The Midget AAA teams are Calgary Flames and UFA Bisons. Following a round-robin, the top two teams will play on Sunday, as will the teams that finish in third and fourth.

CLICK HERE FOR PRACTICE AND GAME SCHEDULE

All practices and games will be held at Father David Bauer Olympic Arena in Calgary. Also, practices and games will be open to the general public.

Important dates for 2008-09 National Women's Team season
September 17-21, 2008 - Evaluation camp in Calgary, AB
October 8-14, 2008 - Evaluation camp in Moncton, NB
October 29-November 3, 2008 - Pre-competition camp, Montreal, QC
November 4-9, 2008 - 4 Nations Cup in Lake Placid, NY
December 27-31, 2008 - Evaluation camp in Ontario (location TBD)
April 4-12, 2009 - 2009 IIHF World Women's Championship in Hameenlinna, Finland
May 2009 - Olympic centralization roster announced

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