OTTAWA, ONTARIO - Canadian women's national team head coach Even Pellerud today released the list of 26 players invited to a training and evaluation camp to be held in Vancouver, February 12-20.

The camp, the first held by Pellerud, will also serve as preparation for the prestigious Algarve Cup in Portugal. Canada opens the competition on March 12th against China before facing Norway on March 14th and Finland on March 16th.

Pellerud announced some notable names would be missing from the camp. Suzanne Muir has retired from international soccer and Janine Helland is taking the year off, while Charmaine Hooper is recovering from shin splints and Silvana Burtini is out with injuries until April.

Pellerud stressed the 18-player squad to be selected for the Algarve Cup could include players not participating in the camp.

View the Women's World Cup Team roster.

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OTTAWA, ONTARIO - The Canadian Soccer Association today announced the list of players who will represent Canada at the Algarve Cup tournament in Portugal from March 12-18. The competition will be the first for Canada since the 1999 Women's World Cup and the first under the leadership of new head coach Even Pellerud.

Pellerud conducted a training camp in Vancouver in early February for 26 players and selected a squad of 18 for the prestigious Algarve Cup. Canada will leave for Portugal on Sunday, March 5 and will open the competition against World Cup finalists China in Lagoa, Portugal on March 12.

The Canadians will then face Pellerud's former team Norway in Albufeiro on March 14 and wrap-up their round-robin play against Finland on March 16th. Pellerud coached Norway from 1991-1996, winning the World Cup in 1995. His squad for the competition includes no less than eight players who will be 
making their debut for Canada. Canada is 0-6 against China, 0-3 against Norway and has yet to play Finland in international competition. This will be Canada's first appearance at the Algarve Cup.

Algarve Cup Schedule:

March 12 - China vs. Canada (Lagoa, Portugal) 14:00 PM local time

March 14 - Norway vs. Canada (Albufeiro, Portugal) 16:30 PM local time

March 16 - Finland vs. Canada (Portimao, Portugal) 16:30 PM local time

March 18 - Placing match (TBA)

Algarve Cup Groupings:
Group A: USA, Sweden, Denmark, Portugal
Group B: China, Norway, Finland, Canada

NOTE: There is a five-hour time difference between Portugal and Canada.

CANADIAN WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM FOR ALGARVE CUP 2000

PLAYERS POS HOMETOWN CAPS D.O.B. CLUB

1.     Nicole Wright GK Duncan, BC 23 12/09/72 Gorge FC

2.     Karina Leblanc GK Maple Ridge, BC 2 30/03/80 University of Nebraska

3.     Tanya Franck D Toronto, ON 21 13/12/74 Toronto Inferno

4.     Randee Hermus D Langley, BC 0 14/11/79 Surrey United

5.     Cindy Walsh D Saint-Bruno, QC 6 13/09/79 FC Select Rive-Sud

6.     Katie Lee D Calgary, AB 0 20/04/79 Calgary Dinos

7.     Sharolta Nonen D Vancouver, BC 7 30/12/77 University of Nebraska

8.     Andrea Neil M Vancouver, BC 32 26/10/71 UBC Alumni

9.     Shanon Rosenow M Edmonton, AB 24 20/06/72 Edmonton Angels

10.   Amy Walsh M Saint-Bruno, QC 19 13/09/77 University of Nebraska

11.   Breanna Boyd M Edmonton, AB 0 10/06/81 University of Nebraska

12.   Anne Marie Lapalme M Granby, QC 0 28/09/81 Reading Royals Ladies FC

13.   Isabelle Harvey F Cap-Rouge, QC 17 27/03/75 USC

14.   Mary Beth Bowie F Dartmouth, NS 8 28/10/78 Edmonton Angels

15.   Stefanie Finateri F Sault Ste. Marie, ON 0 25/01/78 Dalhousie Tigers

16.   Danielle Vella F Ottawa, ON 0 24/01/74 Nepean United Spirits

17.   Kristina Kiss F Kanata, ON 0 13/02/81 Nepean United Spirits

18.   Christine Sinclair F Burnaby, BC 0 06/12/83 UBC Alumni

For more information, please see the Women's World Cup team roster.