CALGARY — Halifax’s Jill Saulnier and Stellarton’s Blayre Turnbull were named to Canada’s roster for the Four Nations Cup women’s hockey tournament.
The Nova Scotia forwards join veterans Marie Philip-Poulin and goaltender Shannon Szabados among the 23 players named Thursday to the team that will compete Nov. 6-10 against the United States, Finland and Sweden in Saskatoon.
Perry Pearn, who was an assistant coach for several NHL teams from 1995 to 2017, was announced as head coach.
Canada’s team was chosen from 59 players who attended a September camp in Dawson Creek, B.C.
Saulnier and Turnbull are in a group of 14 players who won an Olympic silver medal in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February, and will don the Maple Leaf again in Saskatoon.
“This will be a good test for our players and program as we enter into a new four-year cycle leading into the next Olympics,” said Hockey Canada director of women’s teams Gina Kingsbury in a statement.
Canada has won gold 14 times at the annual Four Nations since the first tournament in 1996, but lost in the final to the U.S. the last three years.
“We have a committed and determined group of players looking to establish themselves as the top hockey nation among the best nations in the world,” Kingsbury said.
“The Four Nations Cup in Saskatoon will be an important measuring stick for us this season and leading into the IIHF women’s world championship next April.”
Goaltender Shea Tiley of Shallow Lake, Ont., defenders Jaime Bourbonnais of Mississauga, Ont., and Katelyn Gosling of London, Ont., and forwards Sarah Filier of Georgetown, Ont., and Loren Gabel of Kitchener, Ont., will make their Four Nations debuts.
Pearn served as an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks and twice for the Winnipeg Jets.
His assistant coaches in Saskatoon will be four-time Olympian Caroline Ouellette of Montreal, Doug Derraugh of Arnprior, Ont., and Troy Ryan of Spryfield.
