Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Super REX striker Jordyn Huitema and graduate Julia Grosso have been called up to the Canadian women’s national team for this month’s camp.
Canada will launch their all-important 2019 season with two matches in Spain, including a training match against Switzerland on January 17 and an international friendly match against Norway on January 22 in La Manga.
Canada will also compete in its eighth Algarve Cup which kicks off in February.
Drawn into Group A, Canada will face Iceland on February 27 and Scotland on March 1 before playing a final match on March 6 to determine its final rank in the tournament. Canada won the Algarve Cup in 2016 and placed second in 2017.
Seven of the 12 teams competing in the 2019 Algarve Cup are headed to the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ including China, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, and Group E opponents Canada and the Netherlands. The other five participating teams are Demark, Iceland, Poland, hosts Portugal, and Switzerland. This summer’s World Cup kicks off on June 7.
“This year is all about preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, so we are eager to get together in Europe and continue the momentum we built throughout 2018,” said Kenneth Heiner-Møller, Canada’s head coach. “Switzerland and Norway are both difficult sides, so these two matches will serve as an excellent opportunity to test ourselves against strong European opponents.”
January 2019 Roster
Canada’s January 2019 match roster combines team veterans with standout young players. Captain Christine Sinclair will lead the team as she continues to close in on the all-time FIFA scoring record needing just seven goals to earn the top spot. Teenagers including Huitema and Jayde Riviere, both 17 years old, recently helped Canada earn a fourth-place finish at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Uruguay 2018 and will be joined by Grosso (age 18) and Deanne Rose (age 19).
Ottawa’s Vanessa Gilles will be making her first appearance in a Canada Soccer National Team camp.
Canada Soccer Women’s National Team January 2019 Roster
#1 GK Stephanie Labbe, age 32, from Stony Plain, AB/ Linköpings FC (Damallsvenskan)
#2 FB Allysha Chapman, age 29, from Courtice, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
#3 CB Kadeisha Buchanan, age 23, from Brampton, ON/ Olympique Lyonnais (Division 1 Féminine France)
#4 CB Shelina Zadorsky, age 26, from London, ON/ Orlando Pride (NWSL)
#5 M Rebecca Quinn, age 23, from Toronto, ON/ Washington Spirit (NWSL)
#6 F Deanne Rose, age 19, from Alliston, ON/ University of Florida Gators (NCAA)
#7 M Julia Grosso, age 18, from Vancouver, BC / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite/ Canada Soccer Regional EXCEL Super Centre (British Columbia)
#9 F Jordyn Huitema, age 17, from Chilliwack, BC/ Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite/ Canada Soccer Regional EXCEL Super Centre (British Columbia)
#10 FB Ashley Lawrence, age 23, from Caledon, ON/Paris Saint Germain (Division 1 Féminine France)
#11 M Desiree Scott, age 31, from Winnipeg, MB/ Utah Royals FC (NWSL)
#12 F Christine Sinclair ( C ), age 35, from Burnaby, BC/ Portland Thorns (NWSL)
#13 M Sophie Schmidt, age 30, from Abbotsford, BC
#15 F Nichelle Prince, age 23, from Ajax, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
#16 F Janine Beckie, age 24, from Highlands Ranch, CO/ Manchester City (FA Women's Super League)
#17 M Jessie Fleming, age 20, from London, ON/UCLA (NCAA)
#18 GK Sabrina D'Angelo, age 25, from Welland, ON/North Carolina Courage (NWSL)
#19 F Adriana Leon, age 26, from King City, ON
#20 FB Shannon Woeller, age 28, from Vancouver, BC/ Eskilstuna United DFF (Damallsvenskan)
#21 GK Kailen Sheridan, age 23, from Whitby, ON/ Sky Blue FC (NWSL)
#22 FB Lindsay Agnew, age 23, from Kingston, ON/ Houston Dash (NWSL)
#23 FB Jayde Riviere, age 17, from Markham, ON/ Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite/ Canada Soccer Regional EXCEL Super Centre (Ontario)
#24 FB/F Jenna Hellstrom, age 23, from Sudbury, ON/ Växjö DFF (Damallsvenskan)
#25 CB Vanessa Gilles, 22, from Ottawa, ON/ Les Girondins de Bordeaux (Division 1 Féminine France)
