Olympic gold medallists Marie-Philip Poulin of Beauceville, Que., and Rebecca Johnston of Sudbury, Ont., will lead Canada’s under-22 women’s hockey team into a three-game series against its U.S. counterparts this week. Canada takes on the U.S. on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday in Toronto. Poulin, 19, scored both goals in Canada’s 2-0 win over the U.S. in the Olympic gold-medal game Feb. 25 in Vancouver. Hockey Canada named both the women’s under-22 and under-18 rosters Sunday. The under-18 team also faces in the U.S. in a three-game series Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday in Lake Placid, N.Y. Hockey Canada chose both squads from selection camps that concluded Sunday in Toronto. Melody Davidson is now the head scout of the women’s program. She helped choose the players in consultation with under-22 coach Jim Fetter of Waterloo, Ont., and under-18 coach Sarah Hodges of Regina. Forwards Vicki Bendus of Wasaga Beach, Ont., Brianne Jenner of Oakville, Ont., and Jennifer Wakefield of Pickering, Ont., were also named to the under-22 squad.
The under-18 roster features defender Erin Ambrose of Keswick, Ont., and Emily Fulton of Stratford, Ont. They helped Canada win its first world U-18 title in Chicago in April.