TORONTO – Hockey Canada, along with National Women’s Under-18 Team head coach Stephanie White, announced on Sunday that forward Brianne Jenner (Oakville, ON/Stoney Creek, PWHL) will be Canada’s captain for an upcoming three-game series against the USA’s Women’s Under-18 Select Team from August 20-23 in Lake Placid, New York. Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team is made up of the top Canadian female hockey players born in 1991 or later.

Defenceman Laura Fortino (Hamilton, ON/Stoney Creek, PWHL) and forward Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, QC/Montreal, CWHL) were named alternate captains. All three players won silver medals with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team at the 2008 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship in January 2008 in Calgary, AB.

Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team includes two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 13 forwards. Eighteen of the 22 players participated in the 2008 National Women’s Under-18 Championship in Kitchener, ON, including four members of Team Ontario Red, which captured its fourth consecutive gold medal. Aside from games against Team Japan during the selection camp, only six of the players have any previous international experience.

The 2008-09 season for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team will include the three-game series against the USA in Lake Placid, NY from August 20-23, as well as the 2009 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship from January 5-10 in Füssen, Germany. The national under-18 program follows the regional under-18 program, which has been in place since 2001. The 2008 National Women’s Under-18 Championship will take place in Napanee, ON from November 5-9.

This summer roster will not be Canada’s team for the world championship. Player evaluations will continue during the early months of the 2008-09 season, including the 2008 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, and a final roster for the world championship will be named in December.

The National Women’s Under-18 Team is a key component of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, which, along with the under-22 program, helps identify, evaluate and develop female hockey players for Canada’s National Women’s Team.

NOTE TO MEDIA: André Brin, Hockey Canada’s manager of communications, will be on-site with the National Women’s Under-22 Team. For any interview requests, he can be reached on his cell phone at (403) 540-8444 or by e-mail at [email protected].