Manitobans Sara Manness (La Salle), Kate Manness (La Salle), and Hayley McDonald (East St.Paul) have been invited to participate in Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team selection camp, presented by BFL CANADA, scheduled for August 5-11 at Canada Games Park in Thorold, Ontario

Sara Manness, Kate Manness, and Hayley McDonald all represented Female U18 Team Manitoba at the 2023 National Women’s U18 Championship in Dawson Creek, BC last November. This will be the third time Sara Manness has represented Team Manitoba as she also participated at the 2023 Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island.

Sara Manness, 16, played last season for the Burlington Jr Barracudas in the OWHA U22 Elite League, registering 43 goals and 57 assists in 39 games. She was named Tournament MVP at the 2023 National Women’s U8 Championship, registering nine points (five goals, four assists) in five games for Team Manitoba. Sara Manness is committed to play for Clarkson University for the 2025 – 2026 season.

Kate Manness, 16, played last season for the Burlington Jr Barracudas in the OWHA U22 Elite League., registering six goals and 30 assists in 31 games. She had two assists in five games for Team Manitoba at the 2023 National Women’s U18 Championship. Kate Manness is committed to play for Clarkson University for the 2025 – 2026 season.

Hayley McDonald, 17, played last season for the Balmoral Hall Blazers in the Junior Women’s Hockey League, registering 23 goals and 11 assists in 22 games. McDonald had a goal and two assists in five games for Team Manitoba ta the 2023 U18 Women’s Nationals.

Forty-six players – six goaltenders, 14 defence and 26 forwards – have been invited to U18 selection camp. The roster includes five players (Cimeroni, Grenier, S. Manness, Primerano, Zablocki) who captured a bronze medal at the 2024 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Zug, Switzerland.

The week-long camp will feature on- and off-ice training sessions and practices, as well as three Red-White games on Aug. 7-10. Once selected, Team Canada will play a three-game series against the United States, Aug. 14-17 at Canada Games Park.

“The selection camp is a crucial step as it serves as the first step in our program for this group of talented athletes. Our coaches and support staff are eager to begin guiding and developing these players,” said Vicky Sunohara (Scarborough, ON/University of Toronto, OUA), head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team. “We anticipate a high-level of competition during the camp as the players compete to earn a spot to represent Canada on the international stage during the series and beyond.”

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.