Mix of young, veteran players invited to Canadian women's hockey team camp

There will be plenty of new faces at the Canadian national women's hockey team's training camp in Quebec City next month, as the team begins a new Olympic cycle and a rebuild.

Fourteen college players will compete for a spot on the team that will go to the women's world championship this fall in Denmark. Forty-eight players in total were invited to the camp, including 18 members of the 2026 Olympic team.

The Canadians ended last season with a loss in the Olympic gold-medal game against the Americans, who had Canada's number all season long.

Since then, there's been change at all levels for Canada.

There's a new management team in charge, led by Montreal Victoire GM and veteran hockey executive Danièle Sauvageau.

There's also a new head coach: Kori Cheverie, who just led Sauvageau's Victoire to a Walter Cup in the spring. Cheverie has been an assistant with the Canadian team since before the 2022 Olympic gold-medal win.

The Canadians will be without their captain and best player, Marie-Philip Poulin, for an undetermined time. Poulin had knee surgery in July and it's not yet clear when she may be able to return to the ice.

Also absent this season will be assistant captain Blayre Turnbull, who's pregnant with her first child. Veterans Natalie Spooner, Emerance Maschmeyer and Claire Thompson were all invited to camp but are unable to attend.

That opens up room for up-and-coming players like defender Chloe Primerano and forward Caitlin Kraemer, who were among the final cuts from the Olympic roster, to solidify spots.

It also gives players like Sarah Fillier, who will be the future of this team in 2030 and beyond, a chance to take on more of a leadership role.

“We have an incredibly talented group of athletes who have been