The Road to Italy: An Exciting Preview of Canada vs. Switzerland in Women’s Hockey
In a thrilling build-up to the upcoming Olympics in Italy, Hockey Canada has extended an invitation to 92 talented athletes from its men’s, women’s, and para hockey teams to participate in the National Teams Orientation Camp. This significant event is scheduled to take place from August 26 to 28 in Calgary, Alberta, and promises to be a crucial step in shaping the future of Canadian hockey.
The National Teams Orientation Camp is designed as a three-day experience that will not only bring together players and staff from all three programs but will also include a variety of engaging activities such as presentations, team-building exercises, strategic meetings, and media interactions. This initiative aims to lay the groundwork for the upcoming season and foster a sense of unity among the teams.
"We are thrilled to announce the selection of these 92 exceptional athletes who will embark on this journey towards Italy. Our goal is to unite our men’s, women’s, and para hockey teams over these three days as we strive for the ambitious target of securing triple gold medals in February," expressed Scott Salmond from Creston, BC, who serves as Hockey Canada’s senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations. "The months ahead will involve rigorous evaluations and challenging roster decisions, but we are eager to commence this season in Calgary and help our athletes and staff forge a cohesive team spirit as we focus on our goals for February."
Katherine Henderson, the president and CEO of Hockey Canada from Thunder Bay, ON, echoed this excitement, stating, "This season holds tremendous promise for both Hockey Canada and the sport at large. We look forward to welcoming 92 athletes from our men’s, women’s, and para hockey programs to Calgary this summer. We fully appreciate the honor of bringing Canadians together through our National Winter Sport and are confident that our national team members, along with their coaches and staff, will represent our nation with unwavering pride both on and off the ice as they pursue excellence in performance."
Focusing on the men’s team, out of the 92 chosen athletes, 42 are currently playing in the NHL. This group includes three goalies, 13 defensemen, and 26 forwards. The selection was made by general manager Doug Armstrong from Sarnia, ON, alongside assistant general managers Julien BriseBois, Jim Nill, and Don Sweeney, player personnel director Kyle Dubas, and head coach Jon Cooper. Notably, this list features three Olympic gold medalists—Crosby, Doughty, and Tavares—alongside 12 players who have claimed gold at the IIHF World Championship and 13 who triumphed in the IIHF World Junior Championship. Additionally, it boasts 19 Stanley Cup champions, including notable names like Crosby and Doughty. Moreover, all 24 athletes who contributed to Canada’s victory in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship are included in this roster.
Turning to the women’s team, a total of 30 players have been selected to represent Canada throughout the 2025-26 season. This roster comprises four goaltenders, ten defensemen, and sixteen forwards. These individuals will take part in various training camps and events throughout the year, guided by general manager Gina Kingsbury, head coach Troy Ryan, and senior manager Cherie Piper, among others. Among the selected athletes are 17 who played pivotal roles in securing Canada’s fifth Olympic gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. Additionally, 24 players contributed to Canada winning a silver medal at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
For the National Para Hockey Team, 20 athletes, including three goaltenders, six defensemen, and eleven forwards, have been chosen to participate in training camps and events throughout the 2025-26 season. The selection process involved contributions from the coaching staff, as well as insights from hockey operations director Benoit Roy and manager Adam Janssen. The roster includes nine players who earned a silver medal at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games and 16 who helped claim a gold medal at the 2024 World Para Hockey Championship in Calgary.
To stay updated and learn more about Hockey Canada, please visit their official website at HockeyCanada.ca or follow them on social media platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.
