CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Friday that the bid process to determine which Canadian city will host the 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championship is now open.

The 2013 tournament will mark the sixth time that Canada has hosted the IIHF World Women’s Championship, including the inaugural event in 1990 in Ottawa, Ont., followed by 1997 in Kitchener, Ont., 2000 in Mississauga, Ont., 2004 in Halifax, N.S., and 2007 in Winnipeg, Man.

The 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championship is scheduled for March 31-, subject to final approval by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Any groups interested in hosting the event are invited to contact Hockey Canada by emailing [email protected] to register and receive a copy of bid guidelines.

The last time Canada welcomed the top women’s hockey teams for the world championship, ticket sales in Winnipeg and Selkirk, Man., surpassed 120,000 and television audiences averaged 350,000 viewers, with an estimated economic impact of more than $7 million, including a legacy profit of more than $750,000 to help hockey development across the country.

“For elite female hockey players, winning a gold medal at the IIHF World Women’s Championship is a pinnacle accomplishment in their careers,” said Hockey Canada president and CEO Bob Nicholson. “We’re thrilled to bring this championship back to Canada and can’t wait to start working with an enthusiastic host to make 2013 a huge success.”

The Canadian location that wins the bid process will host 21 games over eight days, while benefitting from the economic and cultural impacts of opening its doors to the international women’s hockey community. The female game continues to grown, attracting a sold-out crowd of 18,630 at Canada Hockey Place on Feb. 25, when Canada’s National Women’s Team won the gold medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.

A 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championship selection committee will review all bids received and recommend an event site to Hockey Canada’s Board of Directors for approval. The selection committee consists of Bob Nicholson, Hockey Canada’s president/CEO; Ken Corbett, chair of Hockey Canada’s Board of Directors; Scott Smith, Hockey Canada’s chief operating officer and Scott Farley, Hockey Canada’s vice-president of marketing services and events.

Hockey Canada’s Board of Directors will approve a winning host city (or cities) for the 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championship by , with a public announcement to follow.

Key dates in bid process to host the 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championship:

– Letter of intent from interested bid applicants must be submitted to Hockey Canada

– Written presentations from bid applicants must be submitted to Hockey Canada

April 1-22, 2011 – Bid presentations will be made to the site selection committee

No later than – Hockey Canada’s Board of Directors will approve the world championship host

Canada has won gold at the IIHF World Women’s Championship nine times, including 1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 20. The world championship is not held during Olympic years.