SALMON ARM, BC – Two-time Olympic gold medalist Hayley Wickenheiser was named Most Valuable Player of Pool A at the 2007 Esso Women’s Nationals on Thursday night.

Wickenheiser led Team Alberta (Calgary Oval X-Treme) to a 4-0 record with eight goals and 14 points. Alberta will play in a semi-final on Friday night at 7:30 in Salmon Arm.

Meanwhile, Karen Thatcher of Team B.C., was named MVP of Pool B, with nine points in three preliminary games. B.C. finished atop Pool B at 3-0.

The complete list of award winners is as follows:

*Mickey Walker – Most Sportsmanlike Player – Jennifer Sullivan (PEI)

Most Sportsmanlike Team – New Brunswick

**Isobel Gathorne Hardy Award – Karen Mamchuk (MB)

*The Mickey Walker Most Sportsmanlike Player is selected from a list of nominees provided by the nine teams at the tournament.

This year’s nominees were Karlee Shields (NB), Jocelyn Campbell (NS), Monica Dupuis (AB), Jennifer Sullivan (PEI), Latoya Clarke (ON2), Heather Logan (ON1), Amanda Turner (BC Host), Lisa Bonang (BC) and Kendra Heinricks (MB).

**The Isobel Gathorne Hardy Award is attributed to an active player, at any level of the game, whose values, leadership and personal traits are representative of all female athletes. The award recognizes a player that has demonstrated strong community involvement and dedication to the game of hockey.

The Esso Women’s National Championship started in 1982 and is Canada’s senior women’s championship. The event attracts some of the most well-known names in Canadian female hockey. This year is no different with National Team players Hayley Wickenheiser, Danielle Goyette, Gillian Ferrari, Delaney Collins and others taking part in the tournament.

Media inquiries throughout the event should be directed to Chris Jurewicz, Hockey Canada’s Coordinator of Communications. He can be reached at (403) 880-5819.