Golden Hawks Brooker named Team Canada's WHKY captain for Winter Universiade

GRANADA, Spain (February 3, 2015) - Laura Brooker, a fifth year forward with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks women's hockey team, has been chosen as Canada's captain for the 2015 Winter Universiade Games in Granada, Spain.  

The 27th biennial Games will run from Feb. 3-14, with the women's hockey gold medal match set for February 12. Team Canada is the reigning Universiade champion, and begins defence of its title on February 4 against Kazakhstan at 2:30 p.m. EST. Canada will also face Russia in the preliminary round on February 8, also at 2:30 p.m. EST.

Brooker, a left winger in her fifth year of eligibility with the defending OUA champion Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks, is looking to capture her second Universiade gold medal after she racked up 10 points (7-3-10) in seven games in 2013 in Trentino, including a goal and an assist in a 5-0 championship win over Russia. A member of the CIS all-rookie team in 2011, Brooker has scored numerous OUA all-star nods over the years and was named to the CIS championship tournament all-star team last season.

"I'm honestly breathless," said Brooker. "It's an honour to serve as captain at my university, and even more so when I'm wearing the red and white of my country. I was stunned when coach phoned me to tell me the news, but I am proud to lead our team here in Granada."

"She's earned this honour," exclaimed Jon Rempel, the Team Canada head coach from the University of Manitoba. "She leads her university team, and she's a big game performer. She was a CIS championship all-star and a key player in 2013 when she helped lead Canada to a gold medal. Her proven leadership and big game experience will be crucial to our team success at this Universiade."

NOTES: The Canadian women enter the Granada tournament with a 21-0 all-time record in Universiade competition, including a 3-1 gold medal win over China in 2009, a 4-1 defeat of Finland in the 2011 title match and a 5-0 championship victory over Russia in 2013 

Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/winter/2015/index 
Granada 2015 website: http://www.granada2015.org/en/  

WOMEN'S SCHEDULE (all times local / 6 hours ahead of EST)

Wednesday, Feb. 4 (20:30): Canada vs. Kazakhstan
Sunday, Feb. 8 (20:30): Canada vs. Russia
Wednesday, Feb. 11 (TBD): Semi-finals 
Thursday, Feb. 12 (17:00): Bronze (www.fisu.tv) 
Thursday, Feb. 12 (20:30): Final (www.fisu.tv)

Source: Laurier Golden Hawks