Cochrane's Sarah Wozniewicz won't be home for Christmas this year.

Instead, she's one of 23 players selected to defend Canada’s U18 women's world hockey title in Bratislava, Slovakia.

The talented forward gives Cochranites one more reason to follow the world championship that Canada has medalled in 12 times.

"I was super excited to make Team Canada," says Wozniewicz.

"I've never played hockey out of North America before, so it will be super cool to have a different experience."

Wozniewicz and other top U18 female hockey players were part of a long selection process that started with 60 prospects and pared it down to 40 before the final 23 were selected.

Wozniewicz has played on the Edge School's midget team for a few seasons, despite having only turned 16 this fall.

"It has been a really good season so far. I love my team."

Despite her age, the 5'7" sniper already has a long list of accomplishments.

Among the most recent was helping Alberta win gold at the 2019 Canada Winter Games, where she scored four goals, including a crucial overtime goal against B.C. in the semifinals.

In the fall, she had three points in a three-game series between Team Canada and Team USA U18 teams. Canada won. She was the youngest player for Canada in that series.

She was also part of Team Alberta in the 2019 National Women's U18 championship.

Wozniewicz is the only Alberta player on the world championship team. She's also the second youngest on the team

Since summer training, she has come to know many of her teammates.

"Going into the summer camp, I only knew one other girl, but now I know a lot of them," she says.

Though away for Christmas, she won't be without family. Her parents are coming to watch, as well as members of her mom's family from Scotland.

Wozniewicz heads overseas before Christmas to prepare for Canada's opening game against Russia on Dec. 26. The Canadians will also face Finland and the United States in the preliminary round before the tournament wraps up with the gold medal game on Jan. 2.

Canada’s national women’s U18 team has won a medal at every IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. They've won five gold (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019), six silver (2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017), and one bronze (2018).