Chilliwack soccer star Jordyn Huitema will wear Canadian colours when she joins the national women’s team for a pair of friendlies in mid June.
Huitema was one of eight forwards named to the roster by head coach Bev Priestman.
Canada, ranked eighth in the world, will take on the No. 27 ranked Czech Republic June 11 and face No. 7 ranked Brazil June 14. Both games will be played in Spain at Estadio Cartagonova in Cartagena. A training camp will be arranged around those two matches, likely the final camp before Priestman selects the Canadian crew that will take on the world at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
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“Facing Czech Republic and Brazil will provide us with similar conditions to what we will face at the Tokyo Olympic Games, with two very different opponents within a three-day window, so it is a great opportunity to see how we cope in those circumstances as well as in the heat,” Priestman said. “With more players in season now, I’m excited to see how players come in more and more ready for Tokyo and hope we can build on a successful April window.”
Huitema was with Canada for two wins in April as her team beat Wales 3-0 and England 2-0. If she makes it to Tokyo, it will be her first Olympic experience.
Canada has won bronze at the last two Olympics and they know they will open the 2021 games July 21 against Japan at the Sapporo Dome. That will be followed by Group E matches against Chile (July 24, Sapporo Dome) and Britain (July 27 at Kashima Stadium).