Sault Ste. Marie continues to establish itself as one of Canada’s premier centres for developing elite female hockey talent.
On Friday, July 31, Hockey Canada announced the rosters for its National Women’s Under-18 Team selection camp and Canada’s National Women’s Development Team selection camp, with four players from the Sault Ste. Marie OWHA U22 Elite program earning invitations to the Development Team camp.
The four players selected are goaltender Majia St. Pierre, along with forwards Haylee Lecuyer, Riley Pettit, and Skylar Ruschpler.
St. Pierre, a 17-year-old netminder from Sault Ste. Marie, stands 5-foot-8 and currently plays for the Etobicoke Dolphins. She already has international experience after helping Canada capture the silver medal at the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. Her invitation to the Development Team camp is another significant milestone as she continues her climb through Hockey Canada’s high-performance program.
Lecuyer, a 16-year-old forward who stands 5-foot-4, represents the Mississauga Hurricanes and has established herself as one of the province’s emerging offensive talents.
Pettit, also a forward, is 17 years old and 5-foot-4. She currently suits up for the Whitby Wolves and has consistently demonstrated the speed and skill that earned her a spot among Canada’s top young players.
Rounding out the group is 5-foot-8 forward Skylar Ruschpler of the Etobicoke Dolphins, another standout player who has impressed throughout the season with her all-around game.
Earlier in the day, Hockey Canada also unveiled the roster for Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team selection camp. Forty players—four goaltenders, 12 defencemen, and 24 forwards—have been invited to attend the camp, which will be held from August 3-8 at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, British Columbia.
The Under-18 roster features six players who helped Canada earn a silver medal at the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. Those players will be looking to secure spots on Canada’s roster that will compete for a gold medal at the 2027 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, scheduled for January 8-16 in Ostrava, Czechia.
For the Sault Ste. Marie OWHA U22 Elite program, having four players invited to Hockey Canada’s National Women’s Development Team selection camp is a tremendous accomplishment and further showcases the strength of the organization’s player development pathway.
As Canada’s top young female players gather over the coming weeks, the four Sault U22 Elite representatives will have an opportunity to showcase their talents on the national stage while competing for a chance to wear the Maple Leaf in future international competition.
