URL:http://www2.torstar.com/sportswire/amhockey/HKY-Women-Worlds-Earl.html

SportsWire amhockey SportsWire INTO e-zine

_________________________________________________________________
 
Late breaking SportsWire Story last updated on Mon Apr 7 2:40:15 EDT 1997 
_________________________________________________________________
 
No place like home for Canadian star 

- Cassie Campbell is a prototypical stay-at-home defenceman.

And the Canadian women's hockey team member can't see why anyone
would want to leave the country to play hockey given Canada's
exceptional developmental program that's put it head and shoulders
above the rest of the world.

``I don't know why anyone would want to go down to the States
unless it's for a lot of money,'' said the 23-year-old native of
Brampton, Ont., who is also a student at the University of Guelph.
``Our university programs are really starting to grow - we're trying
to get a CIAU championship next year - and the national
championships are great.

``The Canadian system is the best.''

That's a statement the facts back up.

In four women's world championship tournaments, Canada has been in
the gold medal game every time. When emerging countries want to help
improve their level of play, they look to Canada for a model.

The United States, Canada's perennial nemesis, imports Canadian
women for its college programs, which in turn increases the calibre
of play at its club level and allows it compete on equal footing
with the Canadians.

``Teams down there see if they get three or four players from
Canada, their teams can get really good really quick,'' Campbell
said.

While that allows for parity between the U.S. and Canada on the
elite level, the Canadian depth is unmatched.

``Canada is a model for the rest of the world,'' said national team
assistant coach Daniele Sauvageau of Deux-Montagnes, Que. ``One of
the reasons the United States is recruiting our players is to help
put depth in their league structure.''

But there is still a ways to go.

``They're training every day, they're on the ice together nearly
every day,'' Sauvageau said. ``But to get the desire to win, you
have to play tough games, you have to have competition and that's
where our nationals and provincials really help.''

The majority of the Canadian team members also play club hockey,
thus allowing them to keep in touch with younger players on a
consistent basis.

Long before Sunday's gold medal game with the U.S., the team
members were beseiged with autograph requests from young girls who
know them from provincial championships and regular leagues.

It further underscored the role these players have in developing
the next generation of national team members.

``The young girls now have role models to look up to and it's the
responsibility of the women on this team to go and speak to the
young women who are playing the game,'' said Bob Nicholson, the
senior vice-president of Canadian Hockey. ``We have excellent role
models on this team.''

``It's something we take seriously,'' said Campbell. ``We know a
lot of young women are watching us and we want to encourage them.''

KITCHENER, Ont. (CP)

SportsWire amhockey SportsWire INTO e-zine