CALGARY, Alta. – Western defenceman
Katelyn Gosling has been invited to attend Canada's National Women's Program strength and conditioning camp, which will take place May 6-10 in Hamilton, Ont.
The London, Ont., native and OUA First Team All-Star was a key part of the Mustangs OUA and CIS title runs this season, compiling five assists through five OUA playoff games before helping Western turn in two shutouts during the CIS Championship in Calgary. She has already represented her country once this season, helping Canada to silver at the 27th Winter Universiade in Granada, Spain.
Gosling is one of 52 candidates invited to the camp as part of Canada's National Women's Development Team, which will be joined at the camp by 50 candidates for the National Women's Under-18 Team. Each group will participate in both on-and off-ice sessions, which will introduce and reiterate Hockey Canada's expectations in areas such as nutrition, mental conditioning, and physical fitness.
The strength and conditioning camp marks the first activity for the 2015-16 season for Canada's National Women's Program, and is a building block towards world championships during the season.
Players selected for this camp are in consideration for the Canadian teams that will compete in three-game series against the United States this summer, as well as at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship and 2016 Nations Cup, and with Canada's National Women's Team.
Following the strength and conditioning camp, Hockey Canada scouts will continue to evaluate players at additional national team camps in August, and as they compete with their club and school teams at various provincial and national events, including the 2016 Esso Cup, Canada's National Female Midget Championship, and both NCAA and Canadian Interuniversity Sport competition.
"This camp is another step on the road to continued success during the 2015-16 season, but is also an important camp to evaluate these players as they aim for Team Canada roster spots," said Melody Davidson, general manager of national women's team programs with Hockey Canada. "We are looking forward to welcoming these talented athletes to Hamilton for camp as they learn what it takes, both on and off the ice, to be a part of Team Canada."
The four-day strength and conditioning camp is considered an important first step in pinpointing the country's future women's hockey stars, including those who could one day be in the running to play for Canada's National Women's Team at events such as the IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship and Olympic Winter Games.
