VICTORIA, B.C. - Former UVic Vikes women's field hockey players Danielle Hennig (Kelowna, BC) and Kaitlyn Williams (White Rock, BC) will return to their home pitch at the University of Victoria from May 19-23 but this time they will be sporting red and white for Canada. The Canadian national women's field hockey team is set to play a four-game series against 2011 Pan American champions, the United States of America.
 
EVENT PAGE
 
The game marks the beginning of Canada's campaign towards the 2016 Summer Olympics after the young squad failed to qualify both at the Pan American games this past October and the Olympic Qualification tournament in February. For the USA, the series will provide an opportunity for the London-bound squad to finalize rosters and gain momentum leading up to the 2012 games.
 
This will be the first time Canada has played the USA since the semifinals of the Pan American games, hosted in Guadalajara, Mexico. The strong American side defeated Canada 4-2 before going on to upsetting the undefeated Leonas of Argentina to win the Pan American berth to London.
 
The Canadian contingency will centralize for a four day training camp in Vancouver, May 15-18, prior to the island-hosted series. A long list squad of 23 athletes has been named including defender Hennig and goalkeeper Williams. Both Hennig and Williams were members of the 2008 CIS national championship UVic team. Williams capped off her five-year career competing in four games during the 2011 season with the Vikes in between national team commitments. For her efforts, the White Rock native was named a 2011 CIS second-team All-star and the Canada West goalkeeper of the year.
 
Team Canada is currently undergoing new leadership strategies with this series being led by project lead coach Peter Milkovich and assistant coaches Paul Bundy and UVic Vikes assistant coach Krista Thompson. Thompson recently head coached the Under-17 women's national squad that competed against an equivalent-aged USA team in Surrey, B.C in early April.
 
Senior members expected to provide some experience for the young squad include captain and midfielder Katie Baker (Argyle Shore, PEI), forward Kate Gillis (Kingston, Ont.) and midfielder Kristine Wishart (Hamilton, Ont.). Baker, Gillis and forward Marian Dickinson are the only members of the existing squad who competed for Canada in 2008 at the UVic-hosted Olympic Qualifier tournament. Islanders Mary Nielson (Cowichan, B.C.) and Maddie Secco (Victoria, B.C.) will also make appearances for the squad.
 
A 16-membered roster will be named prior to each of the four games.

MATCHES: May 19 (3:30pm), May 20 (3:30pm), May 22 (TBC), May 23 (TBC)
LOCATION: University of Victoria Field Hockey Turf
 
The following athletes have been selected for Team Canada:
 
WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM
Katie Baker (Argyle Shore, PEI)
Jessica Barnett (North Vancouver, BC)
Marian Dickinson (Calgary, AB)
Bea Francisco (Richmond, BC)
Stephanie Gardener (Vancouver, BC)
Kate Gillis (Kingston, ON)
Hannah Haughn (North Vancouver, BC)
Danielle Hennig (Kelowna, BC)
Shanlee Johnston (Vancouver, BC)
Caashia Karrington (North Vancouver, BC)
Anna Kozniuk (North Vancouver, BC)
Lauren Logush (Richmond Hill, ON)
Sara McManus  (Tsawwassen, BC)
Jocelyn Mitchell              
Kelly Newton (Vancouver, BC)
Mary Nielson (Cowichan, BC)
Emma Plasteras (North Vancouver, BC)
Kim Scraper (West Vancouver, BC)
Maddie Secco (Victoria, BC)
Natalie Sourisseau (Kelowna, BC)
Brienne Stairs (Kitchener, ON)
Kaitlyn Williams (White Rock, BC)
Kristine Wishart (Hamilton, ON)
 
RESERVES
Jessica Buttinger (Kitchener, ON)
Rachel Donohoe (North Vancouver, BC)
Karli Johansen (North Vancouver, BC)
Holly Stewart (North Vancouver, BC)
 
STAFF TEAM
Peter Mikovich (Project Lead Coach)
Paul Bundy (Assistant Coach)
#Krista Thompson# (Assistant Coach)
Carrie Trumpy (Manager)
Noreen Ortilla (Physiotherapist)
Paul Mounter (Video Technology)