Three London Devilettes graduates will compete for the Canadian Senior Ice Hockey Team on Dec. 14 in Kitchener and Dec. 16 in Sarnia. Ella Shelton and Nicole Gosling will be part of a seven-man defenseman group, while Julia Gosling will be part of a 13-man forward group that will face the United States in Games 3 and 4 of the series.
Olympic champion Shelton, a 25-year-old from Ingersoll, was New York State’s No. 4 pick in the Women’s Professional Hockey League’s first draft this fall. Nicole Gosling, a 21-year-old from London, scored seven goals and 18 points in 18 games during her final season at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York. Julia Gosling, Nicole’s 22-year-old cousin, scored 11 goals and 24 points in 15 games during her senior season at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. Julia Gosling and Shelton attended the Canadian Rivalry Series games in Tempe, Arizona, and Los Angeles earlier this month.
The final three games of the series will be played in Saskatoon on February 7th, Regina on February 9th, and St. Paul, Minnesota on February 11th. Ahead of the PWHL season, Shelton recently told the Free Press that he’s excited to expand on his small-town roots and play near New York City. “I’m totally open to it and it’s going to be a new experience. I’m looking forward to going. It’s going to be completely different from the university and Toronto itself, but about 45 minutes away from the city.”, and thankfully not in the middle of the city center,” she said. “It’s going to be more similar to what I’m used to in everyday life.”