Women's National Teams

[PeterPuck123]

Ive read in past posts that there may be a 18-U or 19-U women's national team, is this true or just rumor?

[Hux]

It is true. It is a U18 team, that will be formed from '90, '91 & '92 birth year players selected from the NDCs. The team will have a camp, along with the U22s, (Women's Festival) in Lake Placid in early August, and then will play a Canadian team, in Canada in late August.

Next January or February there will be a U18 World Championship, with the location yet to be determined.

[puckcontrol]

It is true. It is a U18 team, that will be formed from '90, '91 & '92 birth year players selected from the NDCs. The team will have a camp, along with the U22s, (Women's Festival) in Lake Placid in early August, and then will play a Canadian team, in Canada in late August.

Next January or February there will be a U18 World Championship, with the location yet to be determined.

In Canada, the invitations have already gone out for a U19 team, the camp is actually scheduled to begin on May 10th. The purpose of this is for international competition, so I wonder if the US is a U19 also? There was discussion at Hockey Canada's AGM about an international tournament for U19being held this year in Lake Placid, probably a "four nations" tournament.

[Hux]

The original intent, at least from USA Hockey and Hockey Canada, was to have a U19 team. The IIHF decided that the Worlds would be U18, so when I talked with Michele Amidon about it a few weeks ago her comment was that USA Hockey would go with a U18 team, though she wasn't sure what the age designation would be for the tourney this August.

I was told the U22 would be playing in Lake Placid, while the U18s would be playing up north. Each year the 22s have alternated countries, so it was the intent to have the 18s play in Canada when the 22s were in LP.

[sheba]

If there was a first time u19 tourney in August, it would be a shame to exclude some of the more prominent 89s like HK, Raylen D. and the Lam sisters and others who have already had a taste of international competition - even if the 89s would only be eligible for this August and not the u18 Worlds for next year ...it would be nice for the 89s to have a chance at being top dogs instead of the youngest members of u22..(not to mention having a significantly stronger u19 team that would INCLUDE the 89s)

[Hux]

I was just looking at my notes from my conversation with Michele, and she said "well, that could change" in regards to the team being U18 or U19 this August. I first heard about this tourney from Ben Smith last October. He had just gotten back from Europe, and meetings with the IIHF over a U19 Worlds and he said they (IIHF) were leaning towards a younger tourney.

At the time he thought it could be at least two years before they would have a true Worlds, as there was talk of having a European Championship at that age group first to help build interest in the various countries, and allow them to play without getting beat up by North American teams. Given that timetable USAH and HC decided on playing here, with the possibility of one or two of the stronger European teams (one would assume Sweden and Finland) coming here to play at some point before the Worlds.

When I last talked about it with Ben Smith in March it didn't sound as if that schedule had changed, but at that time he also thought they were still going with a U19 team. My conversation with Michele was three weeks ago, so it looks as though things are moving ahead faster than they originally thought.

Given the way things are going it wouldn't surprise me if there were a Euro team over here this summer. And it could well be that they have the tourney in LP, though there would be a lot of hockey going on there with the 22s, and all the youth tourneys and camps that go on.

However it turns out, it is going to be an exciting summer for women's hockey.

[Trillium]

[QUOTE=Hux;3153790]I was just looking at my notes from my conversation with Michele, and she said "well, that could change" in regards to the team being U18 or U19 this August.
QUOTE]

Seems to have been similar confusion in Canada. In the Canada Winter Games TV coverage in March, there was much conversation/announcement about the start of a U18 team and the fact that the Hockey Canada scouts were at the event to identify top prospects for that team. Even some Hockey Canada people were quoted on air talking about the start of a U18 team.

However, invitations have now gone out for the Team Canada selection camp to several 89's, so it is obvious that somewhere along the line there has been a change to a U19 team now. There is still nothing at all posted on the Hockey Canada website about any of it.

[Trillium]

Roster of 66 announced by Hockey Canada today for the May U19 strength and conditioning camp. Based on results from this camp and CWG/U18 Nationals on ice performance, reductions will be made for another July on ice camp through which U18 and U22 rosters will apparently be developed.

www.hockeycanada.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/14990/la_id/1/ss_id/21974/season_id/206/team_id/718.htm

[Hux]

[QUOTE=Hux;3153790]I was just looking at my notes from my conversation with Michele, and she said "well, that could change" in regards to the team being U18 or U19 this August.
QUOTE]

Seems to have been similar confusion in Canada. In the Canada Winter Games TV coverage in March, there was much conversation/announcement about the start of a U18 team and the fact that the Hockey Canada scouts were at the event to identify top prospects for that team. Even some Hockey Canada people were quoted on air talking about the start of a U18 team.

However, invitations have now gone out for the Team Canada selection camp to several 89's, so it is obvious that somewhere along the line there has been a change to a U19 team now. There is still nothing at all posted on the Hockey Canada website about any of it.


Yeah, they are doing a U19 camp, same as USA Hockey in Lake Placid with the 89/90s, and apparently they are doing as USAH is, and the 90s can be on the U18, with the 89s eligible for the U22 team.

[AllAboutRebounds]

What does this mean for younger players currently on/in contention for the U22 team?

[Hux]

What does this mean for younger players currently on/in contention for the U22 team?

Nothing, really, as they were already part of the mix prior to the creation of the U18 team. (see tTwins, Knight, West, Parsons etc.)

[puckcontrol]

The roster for Canada's U19 camp is now on Hockey Canada's website.

[daffee]

IMO they should have a U-16 USA team that travels and competes internationally. The more you can expose young athletes to international competition, the more posed they become as they enter the senior ranks. Other NGBs have teams at the U-16 level in women's sports. It is long overdue in USA Hockey.

[Hux]

IMO they should have a U-16 USA team that travels and competes internationally. The more you can expose young athletes to international competition, the more posed they become as they enter the senior ranks. Other NGBs have teams at the U-16 level in women's sports. It is long overdue in USA Hockey.

There is no point at this time, as there aren't enough participants at the younger ages across the pond. If things take off with the U18, maybe we would see a U17, as with the boys, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

One thing that you have to remember is that there is very little funding for the women's side. The NTDP gets some 4 Million a year to produce first round draft picks that will end up in the NHL and eventually on a National team. There is no funding to do that type of program with the women.

[daffee]

There is no point at this time, as there aren't enough participants at the younger ages across the pond.

Fair enough, but Canada is still international

There is no funding to do that type of program with the women.

That is a real shame because then the women in ice hockey are playing catch up to women in other NGBs who do have that opportunity. By centralizing the strength, conditioning, training, gaining the experience of traveling to a foreign country, competing for your country, it heightens interest and commitment -- remember there is a precipitous drop off at age 16 in women's sport participation. Even if the team has to fund raise, I think it would be worth considering.

[puckster]

Canada to host the first U18 tournament next year:



http://live82.ihwc.net/english/article/news/index.ihwc?&artId=2662

Canada will be awarded the first-ever IIHF World Women's U18 Championship, to be held at a site to be determined from January 7 to 13, 2008. Participants will include Canada, the USA, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, and the Czech Republic. Russia also made a bid to host but withdrew its application, stating that it was appropriate to award Canada this inaugural tournament due to the Canadian legacy in women's hockey.

[Hux]

Big concession by the IIHF, as they were pushing for a late January-early February schedule when European teams are on break, while Hockey Canada and USA Hockey were looking for early January when school is out in North America.

It will be interesting to see where this is held. My bet is somewhere in the GTA, as Winnepeg just had the Worlds (guess we need to call it SR Worlds now) and Quebec has the men's next year, while Vancouver has the Olympics in '10.

[Trillium]

Big concession by the IIHF, as they were pushing for a late January-early February schedule when European teams are on break, while Hockey Canada and USA Hockey were looking for early January when school is out in North America.

It will be interesting to see where this is held. My bet is somewhere in the GTA, as Winnepeg just had the Worlds (guess we need to call it SR Worlds now) and Quebec has the men's next year, while Vancouver has the Olympics in '10.

I can absolutely guarantee the event will not be in the GTA as they would have no hope in hell of getting ice at that time, or any kind of audience for that matter (too much competition). My bet would be Halifax or somewhere like that.

Also, I'm not sure how this timing could be considered a win for NA, as the girls will not be out of school anyway when the event is to be held (first week back in school after Christmas break).

[Hux]

I can absolutely guarantee the event will not be in the GTA as they would have no hope in hell of getting ice at that time, or any kind of audience for that matter (too much competition). My bet would be Halifax or somewhere like that.

Also, I'm not sure how this timing could be considered a win for NA, as the girls will not be out of school anyway when the event is to be held (first week back in school after Christmas break).

I know what you mean about ice, but with the plethora of OHL barns, I can see them getting ice while a team is on the road, and if they decide they want to do it in Brampton and Mississauga, I don't think they will have any trouble getting the OHL to adjust the schedule to put the two teams on the road for a week. Halifax has the men's worlds along with QC, so I don't see that happening.

No, I say the GTA, or possibly Alberta.

Yeah, I was thinking in terms of the girls in prep schools down here who will still be on vacation. But you are right, aside from them, everyone else will be back in school by then. Not that it really matters much, as no one is going to opt for school when HC or USA Hockey calls, and no teacher or school is going to bust chops when one of their own dons a Maple Leaf in Red and Black. (though it might down here in a non-traditional hockey market)

[puckster]

Yes, these are high school kids we are talking about and most (if not all) will be back in school. Looks like some of the US kids (those participating in Nationals in March) will be missing close to two weeks of school next spring semester, many in their junior year, the most critical.