With the quest for the gold quickly approaching, Team Canada looks to keep the momentum from 2022. The 2024 version of Team Canada is a mixture of new and experienced, split almost equally into veterans and first time participants to their first ISBF women’s world championship.
Leading the charge up front are five returning forwards, all who bring a plethora of offensive talent. The veterans include 2022 tournament MVP Carol-Ann Upshall, Genevieve Bannon (Gold 2022) Chelsea Karpenko (Gold 2019 & 2022), Angie Cirelli (Gold 2019 & 2022) and offensive powerhouse Jessie McCann (Gold 2015,2019 & 2022). Fresh off their gold medal at the 2023 ISBHF U21 World Junior tournament is Neleh Vineault-Sargeant and Jenni Simpson, who finished first and second in scoring, respectively, in the tournament. Returning to the ISBHF World Championship after six years away from the program is Amanda Kean, who held the scoring title the last time that this tournament was held in Switzerland in 2015. Other players to watch include Sarah Davis, former member of Hockey Canada at multiple IIHF Women’s World Championships and two power forwards in Tawnya Guindon and Jenna Hendrikx (represented Lebanon in 2022 ISBHF World championships). Main University stand out Haley Ryan looks to make the most of her first international event while Jenna Proulx will get the opportunity to play in a true World Championship, after the cancellation of her Junior Worlds in 2020.
On the backend, the blue line is loaded with experience. Kristen Cooze will hold down the fort wearing the captaincy in her seventh straight world championship. Alongside her are also three stallworthy returning defencemen in Melanie Jue (2022 Top Defenceman and seeking her fourth ISBHF World title). Corie Jacobson and Carley Blomberg, who all bring their skill and experience from their 2022 Gold medal. After a devastating knee injury left her out of the lineup for much of the 2017 world championships Heather Berzins looks to complete the comeback and avenge the bronze medal that accompanied her. Rounding out the defence roster that spans coast to coast, and ready to make an impact as a returning player is Kara Brumm (Gold 2019) and in their very first international competition, our Newfoundland United mainstay Jillian Mason and British Columbia stand out Emily Jude.
In goal, we see three goalies with various levels of international experience, vying for the top spot. Our goaltending team features returning goaltender Julianna Thomson, currently playing professional Ice Hockey in Sweden, who has backstopped Canada to Gold in 2019 as well as 2022 and is looking to her third straight title. Joining her is the 2023 U21 Junior World‘s Most Valuable Goalie, Maggie Jones, who is hoping to find the same success at the senior women’s level. Keeley Prockiw completes the trio having just come off a Master’s World Championship with Team Canada in Buffalo in 2023.
