McGill quartet to play for Canada at China Games

By Earl Zukerman, McGill & Michel Bélanger, CIS

MONTREAL – Four members of the No.1-ranked McGill Martlets have been named by Canadian Interuniversity Sport among the 20 CIS players who will make up Canada’s debut entry in women’s hockey at the 2009 Winter Universiade in Harbin, China, February 18-28.

Rearguard Cathy Chartrand of Lac Nominingue, Que., was selected along with centre Vanessa Davidson of Kirkland, Que., plus forwards Caroline Hill of Dorval, Que., and Alyssa Cecere of Brossard, Que. All four are physical education majors.

Unlike the Canadian men’s squad, which for the Harbin games is an all-star selection from the Canada West conference, the women’s team is a cross-Canada all-star squad comprised of players from all four CIS conferences. Seven players hail from the Canada West, Ontario University Athletics and the Quebec Student Sport Federation each placed five skaters on the team, while Atlantic University Sport has three representatives.

Davidson, a senior and two-time all-Canadian, is McGill’s all-time leader in goals, assists and points. Chartrand, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, has previous experience with the national team and was named tournament MVP at the CIS championships last year. Hill, who was invited the 2007 Canadian under-22 training camp, won a sports excellence merit award from the Club de la Medaille d'Or last season. Cecere, a junior, was voted as the team’s most improved player in her rookie campaign and was named as McGill’s player of the game in the CIS gold medal contest against Laurier last spring.

A number of other high-profile McGill players, such as goaltender Charline Labonté, blueliner Catherine Ward, forward Ann-Sophie Bettez and freshman scoring sensation Marie-Andree Leclerc-Auger, were unavailable due to commitments to both academics and/or the Canadian national team.

Team Canada is led behind the bench by York head coach Dan Church, with Ottawa bench boss Shelley Coolidge and former Ottawa assistant Kim Thompson serving as assistant coaches. Toronto head coach Karen Hughes will handle general manager duties.

While Canada will be among the favourites to win gold in Harbin, Church downplays the existence of any extra pressure heaped on his players as they prepare for the games.

“I wouldn’t say there’s increased expectation, because every time Canada suits up in women’s hockey, the expectation is to win gold,” said Church. “I would say there’s an increased level of excitement leading up to the tournament. It’s great that women’s hockey has finally been included as part of the Winter Universiade, and I think the girls realize how special it is to be the first group to represent Canada at that level.”

There is no shortage of talent throughout the lineup as 13 of the 20 Team Canada players are coming off seasons where they were recognized as conference all-stars.

“It’s hard not to be impressed when you look at some of the accomplishments of these players,” noted Church. “We’ve got nine players heading to China who’ve won a CIS national championship, five of the girls have been recognized as their conference player of the year, and we’ve got the reigning CIS player of the year on the team.”

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

Team Canada website: www.cisport.ca/harbin
2009 Winter Universiade website: www.harbin2009.org