Kailen Sheridan is one of four goalkeepers called into Canadian national team camp. (Photo courtesy of Sky Blue FC)
Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan Monday was called into the Canadian women’s national team’s two-week preparation camp prior to the SheBelieves Cup.
Sheridan was one of four keepers summoned to training. Twenty-eight players were named to join the camp.
Canada’s final 23-player roster for the SheBelieves Cup will be released in the days leading up to the opening match.
The tournament takes place Feb. 18-24 at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Fla. during the upcoming FIFA international window. Canada Soccer said that it will continue to closely monitor all COVID-19 developments in consultation with the Public Health Agency of Canada and relevant governing bodies through the Canada Soccer Sport Medicine Committee.
“The pre-competition camp is designed to provide any players not in season with the chance to get in valuable preparation heading into the SheBelieves Cup,” Canada national head coach Bev Priestman said in a statement. “It also provides us with an opportunity to see where players are ahead of selecting our final 23-player roster for the SheBelieves Cup. The tournament will provide us with a great platform to start our short journey towards Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where we can introduce some new concepts and operate in a tournament setting which replicates the schedule of an Olympic tournament. We’re all really excited to get together and get to work as well as to see some new faces amongst the squad.”
Canada is scheduled to face USA, Japan, and Brazil at the sixth edition of the cup. All four nations reached the knockout phase of the 2019 Women’s World Cup France and have qualified for the 12-nation Tokyo 2021 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
The Canada camp features a mix of established veterans and young players, including five players who have earned their first call up to the national team. Veterans include the world’s all-time international goalscoring record holder Christine Sinclair, and two-time Olympic bronze medallists Diana Matheson, Desiree Scott, and Sophie Schmidt with goalkeeper Erin McLeod earning her first call-up since returning from injury in 2019.
The roster also includes the two most recent Canadian players of the year Kadeisha Buchanan (2020) and Ashley Lawrence (2019), as well as the most recent Canadian Youth International Players of the Year Jade Rose (2020) and Olivia Smith (2019).
The roster
GK – Rylee Foster| ENG / Liverpool FC
GK- Stephanie Labbé | SWE / FC Rosengård
GK – Erin McLeod| USA / Orlando Pride
GK – Kailen Sheridan | USA / Sky Blue FC
CB – Kadeisha Buchanan | FRA / FCF Olympique Lyonnais
CB – Vanessa Gilles| FRA / FC Girondins de Bordeaux
CB – Jade Rose| CAN / Super REX Ontario
CB – Shelina Zadorsky | ENG / Tottenham Hotspur
FB – Gabrielle Carle| USA / Florida State University
FB – Allysha Chapman | USA / Houston Dash
FB – Ashley Lawrence | FRA / Paris Saint-Germain
FB – Bianca St-Georges| USA / Chicago Red Stars
FB – Jayde Riviere | USA / University of Michigan
M – Samantha Chang| USA / University of South Carolina
M – Jessie Fleming | ENG / Chelsea FC
M – Julia Grosso | USA / University of Texas at Austin
M – Jordyn Listro| USA / Orlando Pride
M – Diana Matheson| USA / Kansas City NWSL
M – Quinn | USA / OL Reign FC
M – Sophie Schmidt | USA / Houston Dash
M – Desiree Scott | USA / Kansas City NWSL
F- Janine Beckie | ENG / Manchester City FC
F- Jordyn Huitema | FRA / Paris Saint-Germain
F- Adriana Leon | ENG / West Ham United FC
F- Nichelle Prince | USA / Houston Dash
F- Deanne Rose | USA / University of Florida
F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns FC
F- Olivia Smith | CAN / Super REX Ontario
F- Evelyne Viens| USA / Sky Blue FC
