Canada as you would expect have a rich Hockey Heritage in the women's game. They have won each of the last three Olympic Tournaments. Salt Lake City 2002, Torino 2006 and Vancouver 2010. They also claimed Silver at Nagano in 1998. Along with the United States, Canada are favorites to win again in Sochi 2014.
Rebecca Johnston Jayna Hefford
Marie-Philip PoulinThe second line have two goals between them so far. Ontario Girls Natalie Spooner (23) and Meghan Agosta-Marciano (26) both play in the CWHL the former with the Toronto Furies and the latter with the Montreal Stars. Meghan has won gold before at both Torino and Vancouver. The most celebrated member of the team however is Hayley Wickenheiser. The 35 year-old from Saskatchewan plays for the Calgary Dinos of the CIS, but she is best known for being the first female to play full-time professional hockey (other than a goaltender). She is regarded as being the greatest female hockey player of all time and like Hefford, has made her fifth Olympic appearance for Canada at Sochi, although a fourth-straight Gold may be harder to come by this time around.
Hayley WickenheiserThe third line of Jennifer Wakefield, Gillian Apps and Melodie Daoust have no goals or points yet, but they will no doubt have a part to play through-out the remainder of the tournament. Like the other lines two members are from Ontario. Wakefield (24) plays for the Toronto Furies and is a team mate of Johnston. While Apps (30) plays for the Brampton Thunder alongside Hefford. She is another who was a part of the previous successes in 2006 and 2010. Quebec girl Daoust (22) plays for the McGill Martlets of the CIS.
Jennifer Wakefield Gillian Apps
Melodie Daoust
Captain, Caroline Ouellette (34) plays for her home-town team the Montreal Stars and is another triple gold winner. Brianne Jenner (22) from Oakville, ON plays her college hockey in America for the Cornell Big Red of the NCAA.
Canada's Defense has chipped in with a couple of goals too. Tara Watchorn (23) found the net against Switzerland as did her Calgary Inferno team mate, Jocelyne Larocque (25). Watchorn who hails from Ontario usually lines up on the blue line alongside Catherine Ward (26) who plays for the Montreal Stars in her home town. Ward was part of the team from four years earlier. Larocque from Manitoba, lines up alongside a third Calgary Inferno defenseman Meaghan Mikkelson (29) from Regina, SK. Meaghan was yet another who won gold at Vancouver. Lauriane Rougeau (23) from Quebec lines up alongside her Cornell Big Red team mate, Laura Fortino also 23, who comes from Hamilton, ON.
Charline Labonte (31) started in goal against Switzerland. The Quebec native plays for the Montreal Stars and was a gold medal winner in 2006 and 2010. Shannon Szabados (27) started against Finland. Born in Edmonton she plays for NAIT Ooks in the CCAA and also won gold in 2010. Genevieve Lacasse (24) from Montreal has yet to register any ice time. Lacasse plays for the Boston Blades.
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