News

Martlets duo to play for Canada at 2011 Winter Universiade in Turkey

Published: 3 December 2010

(Pictured from left to right: Ann-Sophie Bettez, Carly Hill, Vanessa Davidson)

MONTREAL -- Two members of the McGill Martlets are among 21 CIS players picked to represent Canada in women's hockey at the 24th Winter Universiade in Erzurum, Turkey next month. The event, also known as the World University Winter Games, will run from Jan. 27 to Feb. 6, with the women's hockey final set for Feb. 5.

All-Canadian forward Ann-Sophie Bettez of Sept-Iles, Que., was selected along with forward Carly Hill of Dorval, Que.

Bettez, who won league MVP honours in 2008-09, is a three-time all-star and two-time scoring leader in the Quebec conference.

Hill is among five returning players from Canada's 2009 championship squad. Student-athletes are eligible to compete at the Universiade up to one year after completing their university eligibility. Canada heads into the event as defending champion following a 3-1 gold-medal victory over host China in Harbin in 2009, when the sport made its Universiade debut.

Long-time Concordia University head coach Les Lawton will lead the Canadian entry in Turkey, with York's Stacey Colarossi and Carleton's Mandi Duhamel assisting behind the bench.

"It's always a tremendous honour to represent Canada on the international stage," said Lawton, who entered his 29th season at the helm at Concordia with a 586-282-72 overall record. "The team did really well in 2009 and we're excited about the opportunity to defend the Universiade title. I like our mix of returning players and newcomers. It's critical at the international level to have experience on your side, to have leadership in order to bring the team together in challenging situations. "We think we have the best in CIS women's hockey. That was our goal from day one."

Defending the Canadian net will be a pair of fifth-year goaltenders, Brock's Beth Clause and Laurier's Liz Knox.

The defensive unit includes StFX teammates Jenna Downey and Suzanne Fenerty, Manitoba's Caitlin MacDonald, Laurier's Alicia Martin and Guelph's Jacalyn Sollis.

Joining Hill at forward is Laurier's Andrea Ironside, Moncton's Mariève Provost, York's Courtney Unruh, Montreal's Kim Deschênes, Saskatchewan's Breanne George, Dalhousie's Jocelyn Leblanc, Manitoba's Addie Miles, Western's Ellie Seedhouse, Laurier's Candice Styles, Guelph's Jessica Zerafa and Concordia's Erin Lally.

In Erzurum, the women's hockey tournament will once again be a six-team competition with Finland, Slovakia, Great Britain, the USA and host Turkey also vying for Universiade glory.

The Americans and Turks will make their first World University Games appearance in the sport, replacing 2009 silver medalist China and Japan at the tourney.

Canada is set to open the five-game round-robin competition against Finland on Jan. 27 and face the USA in its fourth match on Jan. 31. The top four teams at the end of the preliminary round advance to the semifinals.

In 2009, the Canadians went a perfect 5-0 in round-robin play with wins over Great Britain (11-0), Finland (5-0), Slovakia (6-3), China (7-1) and Japan (4-1). They went on to defeat Slovakia 10-1 in the semis before downing China 3-1 in the final.

"It's great to see the USA join the tournament this time around," noted Lawton. "They could very well be our greatest opponent. Like Canada, they have a very deep pool of talent to select from so I expect them to send a very competitive team."

"One of our biggest challenges is the fact we won't get on the ice together before we get to Turkey. Hopefully we'll gel quickly, develop more and more chemistry as the tournament progresses and peak at the right moment."

Canada's participation in the Universiade is managed by the CIS International Programs.

Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/winter

2011 Winter Universiade website: www.erzurum2011.gov.tr/english

TEAM CANADA ROSTER

Position Name University Elig. Hometown

Goaltender Beth Clause Brock 5 Hamilton, Ont.

Goaltender Liz Knox Laurier 5 Stouffville, Ont.

Defence Jenna Downey StFX 2 Stratford, Ont.

Defence Suzanne Fenerty StFX 4 Cole Harbour, N.S.

Defence Caitlin MacDonald Manitoba 2 Winnipeg, Man.

Defence Alicia Martin Laurier 4 Etobicoke, Ont.

Defence Jacalyn Sollis Guelph 4 West Vancouver, B.C.

Defence Kelsey Webster York 5 Duncan, B.C.

Forward Ann-Sophie Bettez McGill 4 Sept-Iles, Que.

Forward Erin Lally Concordia 2 Calgary, Alta.

Forward Carly Hill McGill 5 Dorval, Que.

Forward Kim Deschênes Montreal 2 Saint-Quentin, N.B.

Forward Breanne George Saskatchewan 3 Saskatoon, Sask.

Forward Jocelyn Leblanc Dalhousie 4 Moncton, N.B.

Forward Andrea Ironside Laurier 5 Collingwood, Ont.

Forward Addie Miles Manitoba 4 Winnipeg, Man.

Forward Mariève Provost Moncton 5 Laval, Que.

Forward Ellie Seedhouse Western 4 Whitby, Ont.

Forward Candice Styles Laurier 2 Orangeville, Ont.

Forward Courtney Unruh York 4 Fort St. John, B.C.

Forward Jessica Zerafa Guelph 5 Mississauga, Ont.

NOTE: Webster and Ironside played their fifth and final CIS season in 2009-10. Student-athletes can compete at the Universiade up to one year after completing their university eligibility.