A Milestone for UMD Hockey
Four standout players from the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey program have earned invitations to Canada's national development camps, a testament to the Bulldogs' growing influence on the international stage.
Senior goaltender Eve Gascon, junior forward Caitlin Kraemer and alumna Ashley Messier will join the senior team's camp, while freshman defenseman Renee Lapointe has been selected for the under‑18 selection camp.
Both camps will be held in Richmond, British Columbia, at the Richmond Olympic Oval, with the senior camp running from August 3 to August 8 and the under‑18 camp sharing the same dates and venue.
Camp Schedule and Venues
The senior development camp will feature on‑ and off‑ice training, practice sessions and three Black‑Gold intra‑squad games, culminating in a selection announcement on August 9.
Following the camp, the Canadian national team will face the United States in a three‑game series from August 12 to August 15, also at the Richmond Olympic Oval.
Looking Ahead to International Play
The roster for the development camp includes 40 players, comprising four goaltenders, twelve defensemen and twenty‑four forwards, many of whom contributed to recent gold‑medal performances at the IIHF U18 Women's World Championship.
Renee Lapointe, who celebrated her seventeenth birthday on July 28, is among the youngest participants in the under‑18 camp and will look to translate her collegiate experience into a competitive edge.
Canada's National Women's Under‑18 Team is aiming to defend its recent international successes as it prepares for the 2027 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship scheduled for January in Ostrava, Czechia.