Hockey Canada’s 2026 National Women’s Team camp in Quebec City (October 8 to 14, 2026)
Forty-eight players arrived in Quebec City chasing just 25 roster spots for the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Denmark. Some entered camp as virtual locks. Others arrived fighting for an opportunity to force their way into the conversation. By the time the final intersquad game ended on Wednesday night, a number of important questions had become clearer.
With games against the United States in Windsor and Plymouth still ahead, Hockey Canada now faces a series of difficult decisions as it finalizes the group that will represent Canada this fall.
From the Onset, Camp Was Defined by High-Profile Absences
The story of camp began with several notable absences: Marie-Philip Poulin and Blayre Turnbull were unavailable and will not participate at the upcoming World Championship. Sarah Nurse, Natalie Spooner and Emerance Maschmeyer also did not attend camp despite being long-time members of Canada’s national team program.
Those absences immediately created opportunities for younger players hoping to establish themselves within the program.
The Youth Movement Is No Longer Coming. It’s Here.
One of the most significant takeaways from the week was the impact made by younger players.
The age range at camp spanned two decades, from players born in 1988 to those born in 2008. Yet throughout the week, many of the younger participants looked increasingly comfortable against Canada’s established veterans.
That trend became impossible to ignore during the intersquad games. In Monday’s matchup, Team White’s shootout winners were all products of the next generation:
- Rosalie Tremblay (2008)
- Alexia Aubin (2005)
- Chloe Primerano (2007)
Tremblay, in particular, consistently drew attention. The 18-year-old Sherbrooke native was given a major opportunity, centring the top line during the first scrimmage. She responded with an assist on Sara Fillier’s game-tying goal and later scored in the shootout. The confidence displayed by Tremblay was representative of a larger trend throughout camp.
Among those making the strongest case for inclusion was defender Chloe Primerano. The highly regarded blueliner opened the scoring in Monday’s scrimmage with an end-to-end rush and was featured prominently on Team White’s top power-play unit throughout camp. Her offensive skill set was obvious, but perhaps more importantly, coaches consistently trusted her in serious situations.
If camp was intended to evaluate whether young players could handle the pace and decision-making required at the senior level, several candidates left little doubt they belong in the conversation:
The Battle for the Goaltending Depth Chart
No position group generated more intrigue throughout the week than goaltending. Ann-Renée Desbiens remains Canada’s unquestioned number one. Nothing seen in Quebec City suggested otherwise. Behind her, however, the competition intensified.
Ève Gascon was heavily involved throughout practice sessions, earned a start in Wednesday’s final scrimmage and delivered in high-pressure situations. Gascon stopped all shootout attempts she faced, including a spectacular sprawling save on Laura Stacey, helping Team White secure its second consecutive shootout victory.
With Emerance Maschmeyer absent and Kayle Osborne battling for position after claiming Canada’s third goaltending spot last season, Gascon appears to have strengthened her case considerably.
A major concern coming out of camp involves Corinne Schroeder, following what was described as an off-ice injury suffered following warmups on Wednesday. The extent of the injury remains unknown, but its timing is undeniably concerning both for Hockey Canada and PWHL San Jose, who signed her, to be a starter in the expansion process.
Other Key Injuries Created Additional Complications
Beyond Schroeder, Julia Gosling and Nicole Gosling both missed the intersquad games due to injuries that prevented them from participating. Despite limited evaluation and less recent information heading into final roster decisions, both still have strong cases to be included, unless their absences are prolonged.
Established Players Still Made Their Presence Felt
While much of the conversation focused on emerging talent, veterans continued to remind observers why they remain part of Canada’s core.
Sarah Fillier was dangerous throughout camp, scoring in Monday’s scrimmage and driving play whenever she was on the ice. Emma Maltais was one of Team Red’s most effective forwards during the opening game, recording a goal and an assist. Laura Stacey, Brianne Jenner, Erin Ambrose and Emily Clark all provided the type of consistency coaching staffs rely on when building championship rosters.
The challenge for Hockey Canada is not replacing those players. It is determining which younger players have done enough to join them.
In-the-Mix Players Made Their Cases
While several roster spots appear spoken for, the battle for the final positions remains wide open. If the goal of training camp was to identify players capable of challenging the program’s established hierarchy, a handful of candidates strengthened their cases considerably.
Usage often tells the story at camps like this, and Alexia Aubin’s usage was impossible to ignore. The young forward, called upon as a late replacement, was trusted in virtually every situation. She took important faceoffs, worked on both special teams units, received defensive-zone responsibilities, offensive-zone opportunities and obtained shootout attempts. Though she was unable to finish several quality chances around the net in the last game, coaches repeatedly relied on her throughout the week.
Jocelyn Amos brought a dimension that every international roster needs. The Ohio State forward consistently played a hard, physically abrasive game, driving the net, winning puck battles and disrupting opponents through strong habits. Her stick work stood out throughout the week, particularly her ability to lift opponents’ sticks and separate opponents from pucks. Honestly, she was a menace the whole time and paid no mind to whoever she was up against in her puck battles. She looked capable of filling a checking-line role while also contributing on faceoffs and penalty killing assignments.
Two additional players quietly built compelling cases. Sarah Wozniewicz brought a power-forward style that I fell in love with throughout the week. She consistently attacked traffic, pressured defenders on the forecheck and was rewarded with a goal in Monday’s scrimmage. Eloise Caron’s game relied more on subtle detail than flash. She was one of the most effective forecheckers in camp, regularly disrupting breakouts and forcing turnovers. Her effort and work rate were rewarded during Wednesday’s game when she scored twice and helped spark Team White’s comeback.
Fly Maple Leaf Fly
Many Canadian fans have called for significant changes following recent international results. The week in Quebec City suggested Hockey Canada will pursue gold with a roster that balances experience and emerging talent. What has changed is the number of young players forcing themselves into the conversation.
Caitlin Kraemer, Chloe Primerano and Ève Gascon appear increasingly difficult to ignore. Forwards such as Rosalie Tremblay, Jocelyn Amos, Abby Stonehouse, Sara Manness and Claire Murdoch also helped strengthen their cases throughout camp.
The message was that the next generation is arriving. Some now. Others soon. With roster decisions expected in the coming days (players were told to expect news on Friday) and some final auditions in a two-game series against the United States still to come, Hockey Canada now faces perhaps its toughest task of the week: choosing which players have truly earned the opportunity to represent Canada at the 2026 Women’s World Championship in Denmark.