Centre 21.02 athletes centralized with Team Canada and called up to participate in PWHPA Showcase

Thursday, May 13, 2021 – It’s a big week for women’s hockey: 10 athletes who train at the Centre 21.02 will be relocated to Calgary this summer in view of earning a roster spot for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Twenty Centre 21.02 athletes were also nominated by their member association (Professional Women’s Hockey Association) last week to participate in a Showcase event in Calgary, May 24-30.

Hockey Canada announced today its preselection (see the list of 10 Centre 21.02 athletes below) for the Olympic selection of the national women’s team, which includes 3 Quebecers: Ann-Renée Desbiens, Mélodie Daoust and Marie-Philip Poulin.

Athletes from Centre 21.02 will be grouped together for the PWHPA Showcase, the first Canadian women’s hockey event to take place since the start of the pandemic. Several coaches from Centre 21.02 will also participate in the event, including Daniele Sauvageau, Stéphanie Poirier and Philippe Trahan.

Based at the Verdun Auditorium in Montreal, Centre 21.02 provides daily training opportunities to 29 elite athletes and was the only region in Canada to offer services to elite female athletes during the pandemic. This summer, when health restrictions permit, Centre 21.02 plans to host training sessions focusing on next-generation athletes.

A key partner in the long-term athlete development journey for elite players who aspire to play for their provincial, national and professional associations, Centre 21.02 is the ONLY high performance hockey Centre RECOGNIZED by the relevant authorities, namely Hockey Quebec, a member of Hockey Canada.

“We are happy to support the athletes, to be part of their development journey and to provide more opportunities for elite players,” said Daniele Sauvageau, President and CEO of Centre 21.02.

Fans of women’s hockey will be able to see Centre 21.02’s twenty athletes at the Calgary Showcase event. As the exclusive English-language broadcaster of the Secret Dream Gap Tour, Sportsnet will broadcast three matches on its national television networks on May 28, 29 and 30. Watch Centre 21.02 athletes in games starting May 24, broadcast on Sportsnet’s streaming platform, SN NOW. (Full details of the broadcast will be released at a later date).

About the Centre 21.02

Based at the Verdun Auditorium in Montreal, Centre 21.02 offers a daily training venue and opportunities to more than 40 athletes, including twenty players from the national program. Centre 21.02 is the ONLY high-performance Hockey Centre RECOGNIZED by the competent authorities, namely Hockey Quebec, a member of Hockey Canada. Centre 21.02 is a key partner in the long-term athlete development path for elite players who aspire to play for their Provincial, National and eventually, professional ranks.

In addition to the founding partners BFL Canada and Sun Life, the Centre 21.02 and its players can count on the support of Geoff Molson of the Montreal Canadiens as well as several strategic partners including Hockey Quebec, Hockey Canada, INS Quebec, Ville de Verdun (Auditorium ) and the City of Montreal.

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Contact

514-512-2102