Primerano ‘Focusing On The Present’ At Canada National Development Team Selection Camp In BC
“I’m just focusing on this week. Obviously, I’ve got to make the team coming up, so this week is the most important right now, and just focusing on the game [Wednesday], which will be really fun," Primerano says.
Top Canadian prospect Chloe Primerano is no stranger to Canadian National Team Development camps.
The defender, widely considered one of Canada’s top under-20 women’s prospects, has already represented Canada a handful of times in international play, skating in two U-18 World Junior Championships, as well as the 2024–25 IIHF World Championship in which Canada finished with a silver medal.
What’s unique about this year’s camp is that, for the first time in her career, it’s taking place in Primerano’s home province of British Columbia.
The two-time U-18 World Juniors best defender is from North Vancouver and played in BC with the Burnaby Winter Club (2020 to 2022) and RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna Prep (2022 to 2024) of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) until her move to the University of Minnesota in the NCAA in 2024–25.
“It’s really cool to have a camp out here,” Primerano said after the first day of Canada’s camp on Tuesday. “First time I’ve done a camp out west, so just to be here and have the opportunity to try out for this team in my home province, it’s really cool and it’s going to be a fun week.”
Primerano is one of five defenders from BC attending Canada’s development team selection camp. Fellow University of Minnesota defender Gracie Graham, PWHL draftees Brooke Disher (Toronto Sceptres) and Sara Swiderski (Minnesota Frost), and University of British Columbia Thunderbird Jaylyn Morris round out the group, with Primerano being the youngest at only 19.
This year’s camp comes after a historic year for women’s hockey in BC, with the PWHL’s Vancouver Goldeneyes taking part in their inaugural season in 2025–26. The trickle-down effect of a professional women’s hockey space in Vancouver has paved the way for local organizations such as the Fraser Valley Super League to create their own women’s divisions, of which both pros, collegiate athletes, and U-18 players have taken part in.
Primerano, who skated in a couple of the FVSL’s summer games back in June, praised the way women’s hockey has grown throughout her home province in recent years.
“It’s really cool just to see the growth of women’s hockey in BC and Vancouver especially with the Goldeneyes. It’s really cool and so inspiring for all the young girls to go watch. I know I’ve gone to a few games and they’re so much fun, so I can imagine being 10 years old and being able to go to those games. It’s awesome.”
Primerano’s accolades are lengthy, especially considering the fact that she won’t turn 20 until January of 2027. That said, her U-18 World Juniors Most Valuable Player, Most Points by a Defender, and Gold medallist titles aren’t stopping her from putting her best foot forward in making Canada’s team moving ahead.
“I’m just focusing on this week. Obviously, I’ve got to make the team coming up, so this week is the most important right now, and just focusing on the game [Wednesday], which will be really fun.”
The near-future after Team Canada’s August events wrap will see Primerano head back to the University of Minnesota for her third NCAA season. The defender made a splash right off the bat in her rookie collegiate season as an underager, posting five goals and 26 assists in 35 games — the highest total among defenders on the Gophers’ roster that year. She followed that up with 10 goals and 20 assists in 34 games in 2025–26.
“It’s awesome. Super competitive,” she said of her time in the NCAA thus far. “Our conference is really tough, and it’s a battle every single weekend. So that’s probably the most fun part of it. No easy games, and it’s super fun to compete every single weekend.”
Looking even farther into the future means seeing Primerano potentially climbing the stage at a future PWHL Entry Draft — something that, given her talent, feels more likely than not to happen.
“It would always be really cool, but [...] not thinking about it really much, just focusing on the present and this camp right now.”
Again, for Primerano, at the moment, the focus is on the present — and that means putting in the work to make Canada’s national team roster after a strong effort at camp this week. That means flexing her skills and showing Hockey Canada, as she has often before, what she can bring to Canada’s blueline.
“Just my all-around game, defensive ability, and the ability to create plays offensively for my teammates. Just looking to do whatever the team needs, and ready to compete.”
