Team Canada players gathers around the net just prior to its game against Team USA at the Four Nations Cup women's hockey tournament in Kamloops, B.C. on Wednesday November 5, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff Bassett
Team Canada players gathers around the net just prior to its game against Team USA at the Four Nations Cup women’s hockey tournament in Kamloops, B.C. on Wednesday November 5, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff Bassett

 

Four women’s hockey players with ties to North Bay are taking part in Canada’s National Women’s Program Strength and Conditioning Camp.

Danika Ranger is a goaltender from Astorville and she says she’s looking forward to the experience.

Ranger says she wasn’t expecting to get the invite.

She says “It came to me by surprise because it’s a really hard camp to get into in the first place, and I have to go up against all the best goalies in Canada.”

Ranger adds “I’m really hoping to get the full experience; how to get myself better, how to train myself to get to the next level and to improve myself at the camp.” 

Nipissing Lakers Women’s Hockey Head Coach Darren Turcotte says Ranger as well as Maria Dominico, Loryn Pearson and Sarah Verbeek are headed to the camp in Hamilton.

All four of the athletes have played with the North Bay Ice Boltz at one point in their respective careers.

This camp is considered an important first step in pinpointing the country’s next hockey stars.