Canada Women’s Long-List named for Can-Am Series

François Ratier has named 38 players to prepare for a two-game Can-Am Series against the Women’s Eagles set to take place on March 28 and April 1 in San Diego. A total of 25 players that traveled to England and Ireland in November are present, including 17 members of the group that became World Cup finalists in 2014.

Competition for spots in the 2017 World Cup squad looks fierce with strength in depth at virtually every position. Among the list of impressive newcomers looking to attend their first World Cup are props DaLeaka Menin and Demi Stamatakis, second row Camille Provençal-Aubé, and winger Natasha Smith. Another notable is 2015 CIS Player of the Year Cindy Nelles who is back after spending much of 2016 sidelined with injury.

The Women’s World Cup kicks off on Wednesday, August 9, in Dublin, with the final slated for August 26 in Belfast. Canada will play against Hong Kong, Wales, and New Zealand in the pool stages.

FORWARDS
Olivia DeMerchant (Castaway Wanderers), Brittany Kassil (Guelph Redcoats), Carolyn McEwan (Burnaby Lake), DaLeaka Menin (Calgary Hornets), Chelsey Minter (Westshore), Laura Russell (Cowichan), Demi Stamatakis (Simon Fraser), Gillian Boag (Capilano), Julia Folk (Castaway Wanderers), Mary-Jane Kirby (Highland), Kristy Sargent (Lep-Tigers), Tyson Beukeboom (Cowichan), Kayla Mack (Wild Oats), Camille Provençal-Aubé (Castaway Wanderers), Latoya Blackwood (Westshore), Jacey Grusnick (Aurora Barbarians), Daria Keane (Guelph Redcoats), Barb Mervin (Westshore), Cindy Nelles (Belleville Bulldogs), Karen Paquin (CRQ), Kelly Russell (Cowichan), Sara Svoboda (Belleville Bulldogs)

BACKS
Chelsea Guthrie (Strathcona Druids), Lori Josephson (Aurora Barbarians), Brianna Miller (Westshore), Emily Belchos (Westshore), Anaïs Holly (TMR), Andrea Burk (Capilano), Julia Goss (Lep-Tigers), Alex Tessier (Montreal Barbarians), Amanda Thornborough (Westshore), Magali Harvey (CRQ), Katie McNally (Castaway Wanderers), Frédérique Rajotte (SABRFC), Natasha Smith (Cowichan), Brittany Waters (Castaway Wanderers), Elissa Alarie (Westshore), Julianne Zussman (Castaway Wanderers)