Central Okanagan hockey players aiming for National Women’s Under-18 spots

Three Kelowna hockey teammates are vying to spots on Team Canada as part of Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 selection camp.

Brooke Disher, defense, and Jade Iginla, forward, of Lake Country and Sara Swiderski, defense, of Langley are all teammates of RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna. Last month, Hockey Canada announced 40 players will be heading to St. Catharines, Ont. for a selection camp, Dec. 26 to 31, including the three players.

The selection camp features three intrasquad games the before the final roster is named for the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, from Jan. 8 to 15 in Linköping and Mjölby, Sweden, according to a Hockey Canada press release.

The roster – 24 forwards, 12 defence and four goaltenders – will be split into two teams for on-ice skills sessions, practices and intrasquad games. With the cancellation of the 2021 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, this will be the first time in almost two years Canada’s best women’s U18 players will be able to test their skills and compete in this short-term international competition, according to Hockey Canada.

Canada is in Group A with Finland, Russia and the United States. Group B is comprised of the Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. Canada will open the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship against Russia, Jan. 8. Canada will also face Finland, Jan. 9 before its preliminary-round finale against the United States, Jan. 11.

Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team will look to earn its first gold medal at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship since 2019.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Carli Berry or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.