SURREY, B.C. – Hockey Canada, in partnership with BC Hockey and the host committee of the 2009 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, announced on Friday that ticket packages are now on sale for the event, to be held at South Surrey Arena from November 4-8.

A full tournament package, featuring all 18 games, is available for $80, while an evening and weekends package, featuring the 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. games nightly from November 4-6 and all six playoff round games on November 7-8 – a total of 12 games – can be purchased for $60.

The National Women’s Under-18 Championship is a very important event for Hockey Canada scouts, who use the tournament to help select Canada’s team for the IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship. Last year, all 20 players who helped Canada to a silver medal at the world championship took part in the national championship in Napanee, Ont.

“This event is quickly becoming one of the biggest on the women’s hockey calendar, and we are excited to be hosting the nation’s best women’s under-18 players here in Surrey,” said Steve Edlund, chair of the host committee. “With the Olympics on the minds of so many British Columbians, it will be a thrill to see the players who are the future of women’s hockey in Canada.”

A number of players who have played at the National Women’s Under-18 Championship in the past have gone on to see action with Canada’s National Women’s Team, including Meghan Agosta, Gillian Apps, Haley Irwin, Brianne Jenner, Rebecca Johnston, Jocelyne Larocque, Marie-Philip Poulin, Sarah Vaillancourt, Jennifer Wakefield and Catherine Ward, all of whom have been selected for centralization ahead of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.

The eight regional teams have been split into two groups. Each team will play three preliminary round games, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semifinals. The gold medal game, scheduled for Sunday, November 8, will be seen on TSN/RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada.