Team Canada tools for gold

Wearing a maple leaf crest on a jersey carrying the hopes and dreams of a country that has come to expect success is something that means plenty to Haley Irwin and her 22 teammates.

As Irwin stood alongside Meghan Agosta Marciano and Sarah Vaillancourt in front of a Hockey Canada backdrop at Monday's press conference to announce Canada's team for the world women's hockey championships here April 2 9, girls with dreams of their own Caitlin Leu, Tess MacMillan and Julia Maine sat nearby, draped in their Ottawa girls hockey jerseys.

It was a huge sigh of relief to some when they found out they're going to play for Canada. For others, it was numbing.

"The worst part of a coach's job is telling someone they haven't made a team," said Canadian coach Dan Church. "There are heartbreaking decisions that you have to make when someone's done everything you've asked them to do, but they're a little bit short of getting a spot on the roster."

He made those difficult calls, knowing the hurt those players were feeling listening, comforting and explaining the decisions. He also talked to the girls who had made the team, happy to share in that moment.

"You could feel the smiles right through the phone," said Church.

Hayley Wickenheiser, who was injured in CIS action earlier this month, is on the roster, expected to recover and play for Canada in two weeks.

"I was nervous and I was excited," she said. "Finally, I got the call that I'd been selected. I was able to breathe a sigh of relief. It's an honour. It's a privilege to wear the maple leaf."

Her dream of playing on the international stage began as a young teen. Growing up in Thunder Bay, she played for teams such as the KC Sabres, Northstars, Kings, then the Aeros in Toronto. She was the first female to make a Triple A level boys team in Thunder Bay.

Her dreams came true when she was named to the national senior team in 2009. It certainly never gets old. She's still wide eyed when she speaks of the experience.

"I started dreaming at a young age, then I started setting goals," said Irwin, 24.

It's watching driven women like Irwin that inspires young teens like Maine, a 13 year old smooth playmaker for the Ottawa Ice who attends the Macdonald Cartier Academy.

It was watching the first women's world championship in Ottawa, in 1990, that Church took notice. It was impressive. He still has memories of watching the Geraldine Heaney highlight reel,imitation rolex daytona ii, gold medal clincher that was replayed as one of the year's top goals on Hockey Night in Canada.

"The women's game was elevated to another level," said Church. "It inspired a generation of hockey players. I noticed how fast it was,fake daytona rolex women, how much passion they played with. They aren't making millions of dollars like their NHL counterparts. They play because of their love of the game and the pride of wearing the maple leaf on the front of their jersey."

There was no secret to putting together this version of the Canadian women's team. It was about chemistry, finding the balance between size,fake rolex daytona white gold, quickness, tenacity and skill.

"If you look at the blueprint of what a national team should be for Canada, whether it's the men's side or the women's side, I think we have that," said Church. "Anytime any national team for Canada pulls on a jersey, the expectation is to win gold. I believe we have all the aspects to win. Now it's about putting the work in on the ice to achieve that goal."

With 115,000 tickets already sold, the tournament is 4,000 away from being the best attended world women's hockey championship ever. The goal is 200,000. Soon enough, the women will ride that wave of emotions and pride with a home country crowd hooting,imitation rolex daytona watch, hollering, shaking their cowbells and blowing their horns.

"There's always pressure to play when you're Team Canada," said Church. "The expectations are high. But there is great support from the fans. It's like having a seventh player on the ice."