Cranbrook resident Rylind McKinnon (pictured) will be competing this upcoming week for the U Sports women’s hockey all-stars at the Hockey Canada Summer Showcase in Calgary.

McKinnon, a member of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, will join a team featuring reigning national Player of the Year Alex Poznikoff of the Alberta Pandas. The U SPORTS Women’s Hockey All-Stars roster was announced last week for Hockey Canada’s Summer Showcase in Calgary, August, 2-11.

Besides Poznikoff, the roster features eight other returning players with Summer Showcase and Winter Universiade experience, along with former U SPORTS major award winners, All-Canadians and All-Rookies.

“The Summer Showcase is an amazing opportunity to test some of U SPORTS’ finest against internationally-recognized talent,” said Lisette Johnson-Stapley, Chief Sport Officer at U SPORTS. “It is now more important than ever to give women a platform of high-performance hockey. We remain committed to the growth and development of our student-athletes and the women’s game in Canada.”

New this year, the Summer Showcase will see U SPORTS play six games, with the event expanding to include teams from France, Japan and Russia alongside a pair of Team Canada squads as part of the BFL National Women’s Development Team Selection Camp. Last year in Calgary, U SPORTS won three of four games, including back-to-back victories over both of Canada’s teams, who are vying for roster spots for a three-game series against the United States. The Summer Showcase will be held at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park, with games scheduled as follows:

Marc-André Côté, head coach of the Moncton Aigles Bleues, will serve as the team’s bench boss, after being an assistant coach with the U SPORTS All-Stars the last two years. He will be joined by returning assistants Greg Bowles of the Ottawa Gee-Gees and Terry Rhindress of the Mount Allison Mounties.

McKinnon, a 5’10” defender, is also the lone B.C. resident to make the cut for the team.

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