A North Bay product from the Nipissing Lakers Varsity Women's Hockey team has been named as one of the student-athletes who will represent Canada in women's hockey at the 2023 FISU Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, NY.
Maria Dominico, 23, has netted five goals and seven assists totaling 12 points in 15 games so far for the nationally ranked Nipissing Lakers hockey team.
"We're definitely proud of Maria and excited for her," said Darren Turcotte, the Lakers' successful longtime head coach.
"Anytime you can represent your country it's an honour. She has earned her spot on the team thanks to an impressive career with us, as well as a strong season this year. Our program is looking forward to watching her play in Lake Placid and finishing the second half strong for the Lakers."
Dominico, whose sister Malory also plays for the Lakers, is excited about the opportunity.
"I feel so incredibly honoured to have been chosen alongside an amazing group of athletes from across Canada for this unique opportunity to represent Canada on an International platform," she said in an email to BayToday.
"It's always special to represent your country and with the 2021 tournament being cancelled, I am thrilled to be getting another chance to play on the international stage. I know that I will represent myself as well as my Lakers' family with pride and to the best of my ability at this event. My goal is to bring back a gold medal to Nipissing University.”
Led by head coach Greg Bowles, the roster is comprised of four student-athletes from the Canada West conference, six from Ontario University Athletics, seven from the RSEQ conference, and five from the Atlantic University Sport conference. The coaches and support staff were announced earlier this fall."We are thrilled with the level of talent that makes up our roster," said Bowles. "Of course, there were very few 'easy' decisions as the level of talent across U SPORTS has never been better, and it certainly has never been deeper."
The 31st edition of the multi-sport event is set for January 11-22, while the women's hockey competition will run January 11-21. The preliminary round will be played in Potsdam, NY, while the medal round will occur at Lake Placid's Olympic Center 1980 Rink.
Canada's roster is highlighted by 2022 U SPORTS First Team All-Stars Shae Demale (Saint Mary's University) and Maria Dominico (Nipissing University), as well as Maggy Burbidge, a St. Francis Xavier University forward who currently leads U SPORTS in goals (18) and points (34) in 15 games this season.
In the 2019 Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, the Canadians earned the silver medal, falling 2-0 to the host Russians in the gold medal game. University of Montréal's Annabel Faubert is the sole returner to the roster from the 2019 Games.
"As Canadians, we all understand that anytime you get to don the maple leaf and represent this country on the international stage it is a thrill, a privilege and an honour," said Bowles. "That said, this group can't wait to get started and add their part to the legacy that is Canadian hockey."
Team Canada opens its schedule on Wednesday, Jan. 11 against Slovakia at 8pm.
TEAM CANADA ROSTER
Tatum Amy Forward Mount Royal University Birtle, MB
Rosalie Bégin-Cyr Forward Concordia University Saint-Georges, QC
Carley Bossé-Olivier Defence University of Waterloo Sudbury, ON
Maggy Burbidge Forward St. Francis Xavier University Falmouth, NS
Shae Demale Forward Saint Mary's University Red Deer, AB
Maria Dominico Forward Nipissing University North Bay, ON
Camryn Drever Goaltender University of Saskatchewan Edmonton, AB
Aurélie Dubuc Goaltender University of Ottawa Trois-Rivières, QC
Annabel Faubert Defence University of Montréal Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka, QC
Emmy Fecteau Forward Concordia University Saint-Odilon, QC
Leah Herrfort Forward University of Waterloo Palmerston, ON
Jenna MacLean Defence University of New Brunswick Wilcox, SK
Lea MacLeod Forward St. Francis Xavier University Dartmouth, NS
Elizabeth Mura Defence McGill University Calgary, AB
Kelly-Ann Nadeau Defence University of Montréal Mont-Laurier, QC
Isabella Pozzi Defence University of Saskatchewan Calgary, AB
Hannah Tait Forward Guelph University
Marie-Camille Théorêt Defence Bishop's University Magog, QC
Audrey-Anne Veillette Forward University of Montréal Drummondville, QC
Scout Watkins Southward Forward Queen's University Kingston, ON
Madison Willan Forward University of Alberta Edmonton, AB
Kendra Woodland Goaltender University of New Brunswick Kamloops, BC
TEAM CANADA SCHEDULE (all times EST)
Jan. 11 (8pm): Canada vs. Slovakia
Jan. 14 (4:30pm): Canada vs. Czechia
Jan. 15 (4:30pm): Canada vs. Japan
Jan. 17 (4:30pm): Canada vs. Great Britain
Jan. 18 (8pm): Canada vs. USA
Jan. 20: Semi-finals
Jan. 21: Finals
CANADA'S ALL-TIME FISU WINTER GAMES RESULTS IN WOMEN'S HOCKEY:
2019 (Krasnoyarsk, Russia): Silver
2017 (Almaty, Kazakhstan): Silver
2015 (Granada, Spain): Silver
2013 (Trentino, Italy): Gold
2011 (Erzurum, Turkey): Gold
2009 (Harbin, China): Gold
With files from Chris Dawson
