Sarah Wozniewicz Named to Team Canada U18 Roster

Cochrane's Sarah Wozniewicz has been named to Canada's U18 female hockey team that is competing in a three-game series against the USA from Aug. 14-17 in Lake Placid, NY.

Wozniewicz and the rest of the team leave tomorrow morning. The series opens Wednesday, followed by games on Thursday and Saturday.

Wozniewicz, 15, has been at the selection camp since Aug. 3 and was speechless when she was named to the roster.

"I was just so happy," says Wozniewicz. "I didn't know what to say or do. It's a great feeling."

Forty-four players were invited to the camp and 23 were selected. She's among the team's 13 forwards.

"I'm honoured to get this chance to represent Canada with the U18s. I'm super excited to be playing against the US."

Held at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park, the selection camp was similar in many ways to those she has attended for Team Alberta, but faster.

"The speed and pace of all the drills are a lot faster and the concepts are different. You learn a lot of new stuff and it's a lot of fun."

While she has experienced the national stage, this will be her first time playing internationally. She expecting a high-level contest against the Americans.

"They've been working on this all week and preparing for this game seriously, too. They'll be coming out hard, but we're ready to play."

Gina Kingsbury, Hockey Canada’s director of women’s national teams, says this an important step for the players.

“For our athletes at the under-18 level, this week is their first step into our program, which is a key component as we look to develop and identify those who will be part of our program competing on the international stage this year and moving forward.”

In late July, Wozniewicz was also shortlisted for Team Alberta's entry into the U18 female national championship being hosted by Morden and Winkler, MB. from Nov. 3 to 9. The shortlisted players will be scouted while playing for their club teams in the fall and will participate in a final selection camp, Sept. 27-29.

Hockey Canada will be scouting players during the national championship in preparation for selecting their roster for the 2020 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, Dec. 26-Jan. 2 in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Wozniewicz, who turns 16 next week, was a member of Alberta's gold medal team in the Canada Winter Games earlier this year. She was the team's top scorer in the tournament, including the overtime goal that put them in the gold medal final.