CALGARY, AB – Canada’s Women’s Olympic centralized team will play three games against Sweden in Calgary and Canmore, Alberta, December 10-12th.

This three game series was designed by Canada’s Head Coach Melody Davidson to simulate the 2006 Winter Olympic women’s hockey schedule Canada will face in Turin, Italy this February. The game times for this three game series will mirror that of Canada’s round robin schedule in February, with a goal of simulating the exact amount of time and rest between games so that the athletes know what to expect and how to prepare.

Tickets are available for all three games at the cost of $5.00 (ages 14 and under are free), and can only be purchased at the door starting one hour prior to game time.

OLYMPIC SIMULATED SCHEDULE/HORAIRE OLYPIQUE SIMULÉ
Offcial Olympic Schedule/Horaire officiel olympique

*Tickets can only be purchased at the door of each venue one hour prior to game time for a cost of $5 per ticket, admission for children ages 14 and under is free.

“As a coaching staff, we feel this simulated schedule will be a great training tool for our players in preparation for the Olympics in regards to rest and recovery,” said Team Canada head coach Melody Davidson. “We are hoping to have a great atmosphere at all three games so we can replicate the energy at the Olympics that the players will be playing in front of.”

With just 65 days to go before the opening of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, Canada has played 16 international games to date, with an overall record of 15-1-0. This will be the last opportunity for Calgary area hockey fans to see Canada’s Women’s Olympic team versus international competition in Alberta prior to the 2006 Winter Olympics in February.

Team Canada will play two more pre-Olympic international games in North America prior to the Winter Olympics, including December 30th in St. Paul, MN vs USA, and the final pre-Olympic game in Canada will be at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, MB versus USA on January 1st.

Canada has centralized its team since August 2005, with the roster currently standing at 26 players. Head Coach Melody Davidson will name 20 of the 26 centralized players prior to the start of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, who will make up Canada’s 2006 Olympic women’s hockey team roster.