CALGARY, ALBERTA - Canada’s National Women’s Olympic centralized hockey team is traveling to Saskatchewan on Tuesday for two games this week in Regina and Saskatoon against USA’s National Women’s team, as Canada continues its preparations to defend Olympic gold at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Canada will face USA on Thursday, October 6th in Regina at the Brandt Centre at 8:00pm CT, and again in Saskatoon at the Credit Union Centre on Saturday, October 8th at 12 noon CT. Both games will be broadcast live on TSN/RDS, the official broadcaster of Hockey Canada (check local listings).

Canada will be practicing in Regina at the Brandt Centre on Wednesday, October 5th at 12noon CT.  For interview requests or media information please contact Sean Kelso at (403) 880-5819 who will be traveling with the team.

This will be the third and fourth games this season between the two women’s hockey rivals. Canada defeated the USA 4-0 (round robin) and 2-1 (championship game) at the 2005 Four Nations Cup in Hameenlinna, Finland on August 31 and September 4. Canada and the USA will face each other five more times prior to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin in February 2006.  Canada’s Women’s team has been centralized full-time in Calgary since August 1st.

These women’s international games will make Canada’s return to Saskatchewan for the first time since 1997 when Canada’s National Women’s team played games in Regina, Saskatoon and Melfort during a pre-Olympic tour in October of 1997.

Team Canada’s centralized roster currently stands at 27 players, which includes four players who call Saskatchewan home: Dana Antal (Esterhazy), Kelly Bechard (Sedley), Colleen Sostorics (Kennedy) and Hayley Wickenheiser (Shaunavon). All four Saskatchewan players won Olympic gold in Salt Lake City in 2002. Head Coach Melody Davidson will name 20 of the 27 centralized players prior to the start of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, who will make up Canada’s 2006 Olympic roster.

“The players are very excited about the upcoming games against Team USA in Saskatoon and Regina. We have a number of players from Western Canada, and anytime you get to play games of this caliber on your own home soil, it makes for an exciting atmosphere. These games against top flight competition are another step in our preparation  development for the 2006 Winter Olympics” said Canada’s head coach Melody Davidson.

Tickets for both games in Saskatchewan are still available:

REGINA - CANADA VS. USA
Thursday, Oct. 6, 8:00pm CT
Brandt Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan.
Tickets can be purchased by calling (306) 781-9300 or by calling toll free at 1(888) 734-3975. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Brandt Centre Box Office. Ticket prices are $18 adult, $9 for kids 12yrs and under (plus service fee).

SASKATOON - CANADA VS. USA
Saturday, Oct. 8, 12 noon CT
Saskatoon Credit Union Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Tickets can be purchased by calling (306) 938-7800 or by calling toll free at 1-800-970-7328 or purchase tickets online at www.creditunioncentre.com. Ticket prices are $18 adult, $9 for kids 12 years and under (plus service fee). Tickets go on sale Friday, August 12.

Hockey Canada will also be running a number of development programs, including women’s coaching seminars and an Esso Fun Day, for newcomers to women’s hockey. For further information please contact Shannon Donovan, Manager, Female Hockey Development at (403) 777-4566 or Lucas Reid at (306) 789-5101.

TEAM CANADA SCHEDULE FOR SASKATCHEWAN TOUR (all times local)
 
Wednesday

12:00-2:00 pm
Practice at the Brandt Centre (Regina, SK)
Media Availability to follow
3:30-4:15 pm
Question & Answer Session with fans at the Brandt Centre
Open to all registered Female SHA players
4:15-5:15 pm
Autograph Session at the Brandt Centre
Open to the General Public
 
Thursday

10:00-11:00 am
Pre Game Skate
Media Availability to follow
6:00 pm
Coaches’ Seminar- Assistant Coach Tim Bothwell at the Brandt Centre
Open to Regina Female Hockey Coaches
8:00 pm CANADA vs. USA at the Brandt Centre
Media Availability to follow
Post-Game Coaches’ Seminar review- Tim Bothwell
 
Friday

12:00-1:00 pm
Practice at the Credit Union Centre (Saskatoon, SK)
Media Availability to follow
2:15-3:00pm
Skate with Champions
Open to any SHA registered player to skate with the National Team Players
3:15-4:00pm
Autograph Session at the Credit Union Centre
 
Saturday

7:30-11:30 am
Esso Fun Day – “Find out what Female Hockey is all about”
Open to all first time participants of Female Hockey
10:00 am
Coaches’ Seminar- Assistant Coach Margot Page at the Credit Union Centre
Open to Saskatoon Female Hockey Coaches
12:00 pm
CANADA vs. USA at the Credit Union Centre
Media Availability to follow
Game Review Coaches’ Seminar- Margot Page