Kendra Woodland enters the ice before taking on Slovakia at the 2023 FISU World University Games on January 11, 2023 in Potsdam, New York. (Image Credit: Isaiah Vazquez/FISU Games)

By Victor Kaisar

New Hockey Canada Athlete Committee

Kamloops native Kendra Woodland elected to new Hockey Canada athlete committee

Jan 4, 2025 | 1:11 PM

OTTAWA — Kamloops native Kendra Woodland is one of eight current and former athletes who have been elected to serve multi-year terms on Hockey Canada’s new National Team Athlete Committee.

Hockey Canada says the committee will represent the voice of high-performance men’s, women’s and para hockey athletes in the country.

In a news release Saturday (Jan. 4), Hockey Canada says the committee will meet once every three months at minimum and “be empowered to make recommendations to Hockey Canada on issues that impact their fellow national team athletes.”

“Hearing from our athletes directly is critical to ensure that we are delivering the best possible experiences for our national teams, and we cannot wait to learn from the eight representatives on this new committee throughout their terms,” Jonathan Goldbloom, the chair of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors said, in the release.

Joining Woodland on the committee is former NHLer Kyle Turris, women’s players Bailey Mitchell (Bram) and Alyssa Regalado, sledge hockey players Billy Bridges and Tyler McGregor, as well as men’s hockey players Michael Mastrodomenico and Markus Phillips.

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The eight members of Hockey Canada’s new National Team Athlete Committee. (Image Credit: Hockey Canada)

Hockey Canada says to be eligible to run for election, athletes must have competed for Canada at an International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) or World Para Ice Hockey (WPIH) sanctioned world championship within the last eight years.

Woodland helped Canada win gold at the 2023 Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, New York. The then 22-year-old stopped 63 of 64 shots in four games, with three shutouts, a .25 save percentage, and a .984 save percentage.

Hockey Canada says the election took place in the fall of 2024, with athletes who represented Canada in the last five years at an IIHF or WPIH championship able to cast ballots.

“The athlete voice is so important to all national sport organizations, and the creation of this committee is an exciting step to further strengthen the connection between Hockey Canada and our national teams,” Katherine Henderson, the president and chief executive officer of Hockey Canada, said.

“We are grateful that Gillian [Apps], Amanda [Fowler] and their colleagues on the board have been so supportive of this committee, which will benefit all of our national team athletes.”