Manitobans Avery Pickering (St. Adolphe) and Sara Manness (La Salle) have been invited to attend the 2024 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Zug, Switzerland as part of Hockey Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team.

Manness, 16, is currently playing for the U22 Burlington Jr. Barracudas in the Ontario Women’s Hockey League, where she has 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) in 16 games. Manness represented u18 Team Manitoba at the recently completed 2023 National Women’s Under-18 Championship in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, earning Tournament MVP honours, registering five goals and four assists in five games for Team Manitoba. Prior to playing for the Burlington Jr. Barracudas, Manness played for the Balmoral Hall Blazers in the Junior Women’s Hockey League (JWHL).

Pickering, 17, is currently playing for Colgate University in the NCAA’s Eastern College Athletic Conference. She has three goals and two assists in 17 games. Pickering represented U18 Team Manitoba at the 2023 Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island and at the 2021 Western Regional Women’s U18 Championship in Portage la Prairie. Prior to attending Colgate University, Pickering played three seasons for the Balmoral Hall Blazers in the Junior Women’s Hockey League (JWHL).

“Both Sara and Avery are incredibly deserving of this opportunity to represent their country and their province with Team Canada,” said Hockey Manitoba Manager of Female Hockey Development Dustin Stewart.  “Throughout the past few years, both athletes have been integral pieces within the Team Manitoba program and have become role models for young female athletes in Manitoba. Hockey Manitoba is very proud of everything Avery and Sara have achieved to this point and our entire membership look forward to cheering them on as they look to bring home a gold medal at the World’s in Switzerland.”

The U18 Women’s World Championship will take place from January 6th to January 14th, 2024. The team will travel over to Lugano, Switzerland on December 29th for a pre-competition camp and return to Canada on January 15th.

The full Hockey Canada release is below.

December 12, 2023

NATIONAL WOMEN’S UNDER-18 TEAM ROSTER ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 IIHF U18 WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
23 players set to defend gold in Switzerland beginning Jan. 6

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the 23 players who will wear the Maple Leaf with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team at the 2024 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, Jan. 6-14 in Zug, Switzerland.

The team was selected by Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON), senior manager of player development and scouting, as well as head coach Tara Watchorn (Newcastle, ON/Boston University, HE) and assistant coaches Stefanie McKeough (Carlsbad Springs, ON/Boston, PWHL) and Vicky Sunohara (Scarborough, ON/University of Toronto, OUA). Goaltending consultant Gord Woodhall (Winnipeg, MB/New York, PWHL) also provided input.

Included in the roster are nine gold medallists from the 2023 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship – Mackenzie Alexander, Hannah Clark, Gracie Graham, Morgan Jackson, Caitlin Kraemer, Avery Pickering, Charlotte Pieckenhagen, Abby Stonehouse and Emma Venusio.

“I am so honoured and excited to work with this amazing group of young women and staff.  We have an impressive team, one built on strong character, speed and skill,” said Watchorn. “From our first session at the summer showcase until now, these girls have improved every day. We will be a team that works hard, plays with attention to detail and has fun along the way. This is an amazing opportunity for us to represent Canada with pride and humility, and I can’t wait to get to work.”

Canada is in Group A at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship with Czechia, Finland and Germany. Group B is comprised of Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. The Canadians open the tournament against Germany on Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. They will also face Czechia on Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT before their preliminary-round finale against Finland on Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.

“We have a very dynamic team…a strong group of returners and new athletes ready to leave their mark on the program,” said Piper. “It’s a long journey for these girls to get to this point and I’m proud of their growth, development, and commitment to Hockey Canada. I know there is a lot of excitement from being selected to this team, but there is plenty of work to be done to defend gold, and I’m excited to get to Zug and see them compete.”

Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team will look to earn back-to-back-to-back gold medals at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship for the first time since 2012-14; it has won seven gold medals (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2022, 2023), seven silver (2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020) and one bronze (2018).

Canadians will be able to follow Team Canada on their quest for gold on Hockey Canada’s Official broadcast partner TSN/RDS; check local listings for details.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook, X and Instagram.