Football Canada announces Women’s National Flag Team

Roster consists of 15 athletes and five reserve players that will represent Canada at the 2020 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Denmark this summer.

For a group of athletes, their dream to represent their country on the international flag stage has been realized.

Football Canada is thrilled to announce the 15 young women who have been chosen to represent the country as members of the Women’s National Flag Team.

This group will participate at the 2020 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Flag Football World Championships this summer in Denmark.

In an extensive process that included evaluating talent at both the Canadian Flag Football League (CFFL) and 2020 International Bowl, players were identified to form the National Team roster.

“The main idea of the process was to see and evaluate the players in a competitive environment and possibly get them out of their comfort zone,” said Francois Bougie, Women’s National Team head coach on the eve of last month’s International Bowl tournament in Arlington, Texas.  “It was all about our players getting experience and playing together.”

Highlighting the National Team roster is defensive back Lauriane Beauchamp from L’Assomption, Quebec.  Not only will she anchor the secondary but the coaching staff and players will draw upon her extensive experience as Denmark marks her third time representing Canada at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships.  Previously, she competed at both the 2018 tournament in Panama City, Panama and the 2016 event in Florida.

Another returning player from the 2018 National Team is defensive back Marilou Beland of Montreal, Quebec.  Amelia Desrochers from Boisbrand, Quebec provides strength on the secondary and has previous experience of participating in the Under-20 Flag National Championships last summer in Prince Edward Island.

CFFL National Championship MVP Blake Geier heads up a strong receiving core for Canada and her dynamic, explosive playmaking abilities will be a factor in Canada’s hopes of improving upon their bronze medal finish at the 2018 World Championship. Geier is joined by Olivia Woo and many hope the two receivers can reignite their magic as they did when Team Canada won the CFFL National Championship last August in their own backyard-Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

A dual threat on both sides of the ball is Ashley Martins from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  The defence tournament MVP of the 2017 National Flag Championships that were hosted in Halifax, Nova Scotia is a receiver and defensive back on the Women’s National Team.

As demonstrated by last month’s International Bowl, Canada’s depth at the quarterback position rivals that of other countries that are expected to compete at the World Championship.  While Saskatoon, Saskatchewan’s Alex Eyolfson has been selected as part of the final 15 roster, Saskatoon’s Cori Thorstad and Sarah Parker of Greenfield Park, Quebec are on the reserve roster and provide assurance on offence.

Four of the players from this roster come bring their recent experience of helping Saskatchewan Valkyries win the Western Women’s Canadian Football League championship. In addition to Eyolfson and Woo, inside Reed Thorstad and centre Sarah Wright are the other Valkyries players.

A Valkyries’ alum, British Columbia basketball star Katie Miyazaki joins the team as a defensive back.

Bougie will look to this core of players from Saskatchewan to create magical chemistry that has previously brought them championship successes.

Additionally, 2017 Under-18 Flag National Female Offence MVP Emma Garagan from Halifax, Nova Scotia is on the reserve roster.

“The 2020 edition of Team Canada’s Flag Women’s Team will be a very young team with limited international exposure but will draw on their recent experiences from the under-16, under-18, under-20 or Senior National Championship,” Bougie said of the roster.  “The defense will feature a good mix between the two returning players from the 2018 third place team in Panama as well as some rookies from Quebec which will make the unit both fast and physical.”

As for the offence, it will be entirely composed of young and exciting new players on the international scene.”

Joining Bougie on the coaching staff is Brian Thorstad as offensive assistant and Alex Desjardins as      defensive assistant.

2020 Women’s Flag National Team Roster

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