CALGARY – Hockey Canada announced its roster for the IIHF World Women’s Championship in Harbin, China, April 4-12, 2008.

The roster is missing several big-name veteran players. Vicky Sunohara, who appeared in eight World Championships and three Olympics, suffered several injuries this season and lost her place to 18-year-old Rebecca Johnston. “It was a tough decision to make,” said head coach Peter Smith and points out that it was not a decision against Sunohara but because the young generation is stepping up its game.

Other veteran players missing are Danielle Goyette, who retired last month, Cheryl Pounder, who took the season off for the birth of her first child, and netminder Sami-Jo Small. Other new faces include 21-year-old goaltender Shannon Szabados and defenceman Meaghan Mikkelson, 23.

Canada has won nine of ten World Championships and 17 of 20 players on this year’s roster won gold at the 2007 World Women’s Championship.

The national team will hold a camp in Victoria, British Columbia, March 25-29 with two games against junior men’s teams before leaving for China, where an exhibition game against Sweden is scheduled for April 2. Three games including the gold medal game will be broadcast by TSN and RDS.