Hockey Alberta has named the roster that will represent the province at the Canada Winter Games next February in Red Deer.
Wednesday, they announced the Team Alberta U18 female group that will fight for gold from Feb. 24-March 2 at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.
Although the roster does not include any Central Alberta players, Director of Hockey Operations Kendall Newell is from Red Deer and Ally Bendfeld of Innisfail will serve as video coach.
NEWS: Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the 20 players chosen to represent @TeamABHockey U18 Female at the @2019CanadaGames. #AlbertaBuilt
— Hockey Alberta (@HockeyAlberta) December 5, 2018
READ: https://t.co/qGdMHDlPG0 pic.twitter.com/Mg1tlbYmmH
The roster features six returning players from the 2017 U18 Nationals team: Kassy Betinol, Teghan Inglis, Stephanie Markowski, Jordan Mortlock, Danielle Serdachny, and Rachel Weiss. This will be the third time representing Alberta for Markowski and Weiss, who also played in the 2016 U18 Nationals.
The group was selected after U18 Spring Camp in May, followed by a summer camp in July and fall camp in Sept.
“Our staff is really excited about this team,” said Head Coach Carla MacLeod in a press release.
“It has been a process to get to this point and all the girls involved have been a pleasure to work with. The 20 girls selected are all individually skilled and driven and we are looking forward to the next step of becoming an Alberta Built team. To play at the Canada Winter Games in Alberta is an honour that we cannot wait to experience.”
Team Alberta won bronze in women’s hockey at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C., a feat also accomplished by the 1999 team.
Team Alberta is a two-time gold medalist at the Canada Winter Games, most recently in 2011 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the inaugural gold medal in 1991 in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Hockey Alberta is expected to announce the male roster on Thursday afternoon.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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