Davidson, Hill named to Team Canada

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, Feb. 18-28.

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

Although the team is comprised of players from all across the country, there will be familiar faces for some of the players in the dressing room. Five players are part of the Alberta Pandas, four are members of the defending CIS champion McGill Martlets, while the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks and York Lions each have two players on the Team Canada roster.

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. 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.

Competing in a single, six-team pool, Canada will face Slovakia, Japan, Great Britain, Finland and the host Chinese in round-robin play with the top four teams advancing to the medal round. Team Canada opens the tournament against Great Britain on Feb. 18.

For more information, check Team Canada’s website www.cisport.ca/harbin or the 2009 Winter Universiade website at www.harbin2009.org.