Women’s national tackle football championship all-stars announced

Players named earn invitations to Team Canada ID camps

Ottawa (August 15, 2016) – Football Canada announces a 26-player all-star team, chosen from standouts that competed at the inaugural 2016 Women’s National Championship, July 28-31 at Regina’s Mosaic Stadium. 

With their selection, this group of all-stars earn invitations to Football Canada’s Women’s National Team’s regional identification camps. The camps will be used to help select Canada’s entry at the 2017 IFAF Women’s World Championship. The remaining players identified for the selection camps will be announced in the coming months.

The host nation and location for the 2017 Women’s World Championship has yet to be named.

“This first group of athletes, which stood out during tournament competition, is a great mix of youth and experience,” said returning Women’s National Team head coach, Jeff Yausie. “Amongst this first group are eight players who helped Canada capture silver at the 2013 women’s worlds in Finland. The experience of these returning players will help the national team program during the next stage of the selection process as we work towards 2017.”

“As a coaching staff, we look forward to inviting additional players to the regional camps in the coming months. Whether named today or not, it’s important that prospective national team athletes continue to work hard both on and off the field in pursuit of the goal of representing Canada on the world stage.”

The four team Women’s National Championship consisted of two game days on Thursday July 28 and Sunday July 31. On championship Sunday, host Saskatchewan captured gold with a 34-22 win over Quebec while Alberta claimed bronze with a 30-12 victory against New Brunswick. 

The national event builds off the 2012 Women’s Challenge Cup held in Montreal. The Challenge Cup hosted provincial teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and Atlantic Canada in a weekend celebration of women’s football which included integrated practices, mini-games as well as development opportunities for mentor coaches.

Canada won a pair of silver medals at the inaugural 2010 WWC in Sweden and 2013 WWC in Finland.

In preparation for 2017, Canada returns head coach, Jeff Yausie (Saskatoon Valkryies) along with defensive coordinator, Pierre Migner (Montreal Blitz) and special teams coordinator, Olivier Eddie (Regina Riot). The returning trio from Canada’s 2013 coaching staff is joined by incoming offensive coordinator Ryan Clutterbuck.

2016 Women’s National Championship All-Stars

* = indicates 2013 Women’s National Team alumnus