Jodi Gentile is winding down her university hockey career on the international stage.
The 23-year-old Richmond native is a member of Team Canada that is currently competing at the 29th Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
Canada is off to a 4-0 start with wins over China (10-0), Japan (4-0), United States (1-0) and Switzerland (8-2). The Canadians will conclude preliminary play on Friday against Russia and already has a berth locked up in Sunday’s semi-finals.
Gentile just wrapped up her fifth and final season at the University of Lethbridge where she suited up in 136 games — recording six goals and 23 assists.
Longhorns’ teammate Tricia Van Vaerenbergh is also a member of the 22-player Canadian squad.
“I am extremely honoured and excited to be selected to the team, and am looking forward to this experience,” said Gentile prior to her departure to Russia. “Playing alongside and against some of the top female players in the heart of Russia is never anything I imagined I would be doing, yet is soon to be a reality.
“I cannot have pictured a better way to end my U SPORTS career than representing the Pronghorns, USPORT, and Canada playing in the Winter Universiade. This is definitely an exciting opportunity and one I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Gentile grew up playing for Richmond Minor and the Richmond Ravens before a stint in the B.C. Female Midget AAA Hockey League with the Fraser Valley Phantom. The McNair mini-school graduate was a member of the provincial U16 and U18 teams.
Canada won three medals at the 2017 FISU Winter Universiade, including a silver medal in women's hockey and a bronze in men's hockey.
Canada has reached the podium in 20 of 21 appearances in ice hockey overall, including seven gold medals, since a men's team debuted in 1968 and the inaugural women's tournament in 2009.
