CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Tuesday that forty-nine players will be attending Canada’s National Women’s Program strength and conditioning camp, taking place May 1-5 at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ont.

The invitation list includes seven goaltenders, 15 defencemen and 27 forwards, who will participate in both on- and off-ice sessions, while also being introduced to Hockey Canada’s expectations in areas such as nutrition, mental conditioning, physical fitness, testing, training and other positive daily behaviours.

Players invited to the strength and conditioning camp are eligible for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team and Canada’s National Women’s Under-22/Development Team. Following the camp, Hockey Canada scouts will continue to evaluate players at national team camps in August, and as they compete with their club and school teams at provincial and national events, such as the 2013 National Women’s Under-18 Championship this November in Calgary.

“We are thrilled to welcome these promising young players to our spring camp,” said Kalli Quinn, director of female national teams for Hockey Canada. “They will not only work on their strength and conditioning this week, but will also learn about what it takes, on and off the ice, to play for Team Canada.”

Canada’s National Women’s Program strength and conditioning camp will consist of five days of off-ice fitness training and on-ice sessions. The 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.

All training sessions at the strength and conditioning camp are closed to the public.

For more information on Canada’s National Women’s Team, National Women’s Under-22/Development Team and National Women’s Under-18 Team, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca.

You can also stay up-to-date on Canada’s National Women’s Program by following Team Canada at www.twitter.com/hc_teamcanada or www.twitter.com/hc_women, and becoming a fan of Hockey Canada at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada.