SPORTS

Wickenheiser, Hefford lead Canada into women's world hockey championship

The Canadian Press Published Monday, March 18, 2013 3:17PM EDT

Hayley Wickenheiser of Canada playing against team Sweden during their women's ice hockey Four Nations tournament in Vantaa, Finland on Friday Nov. 9, 2012. (AP / Lehtikuva / Mikko Stig)

Text:

OTTAWA -- Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Hefford and Caroline Ouellette are the veterans leading Canada into the women's world hockey championship in Ottawa next month.

They are among the 23 players named to the Canadian team attempting to the defend the world title Canada won last year in Burlington, Vt.

Ouellette scored the overtime winner in the final against the host United States last year.

Wickenheiser and Hefford will play in their 12th world championship and Ouellette her 11th in Ottawa.

Canada opens against the archrival U.S on April 2 at Scotiabank Place and also faces Switzerland and Finland in its pool.