Veterans Saulnier, Turnbull invited to camp
Nova Scotians Jillian Saulnier and Blayre Turnbull are among the 35 players invited to the Canadian women's hockey team training camp this week in Halifax.
Halifax's Saulnier and Stellarton's Turnbull are returning Team Canada players.
Practices will be held at the Scotiabank Centre and will adhere to the province's COVID-19 restrictions, including limiting the group size to 25 participants.
“We are grateful to government officials and health authorities in Nova Scotia and Canadian Sports Centre Atlantic who worked with us to ensure we are able to hold this camp in a safe and secure environment,” Gina Kingsbury, director of women's national teams with Hockey Canada, said in a news release.
“Health and safety remain our priorities, and with the few chances we have had to get together as a team, this camp is important to our season. Our players, coaches and support staff have shown great resiliency through adversity, and their eagerness to prepare and compete is evident in off-ice training, ice sessions and our virtual connections.”
There was a similar camp in Calgary in January. This year's IIHF Women's World Championship is scheduled to be held in Halifax and Truro on April 7-17.
No other Atlantic Canadian players were invited to the camp but Spryfield's Troy Ryan is the head coach and New Glasgow's Kori Cheverie is one of his assistants.
Former Mooseheads head coach Jim Midgley is also an assistant coach, Lower Sackville's Joe Johnston is the goalie consultant, Dr. Tina Atkinson of Dartmouth is the team physician and Halifax's Diane Ouimet and Antigonish's Amie Lee are athletic therapists.