CALGARY, AB – Canada’s National Women’s Team will call Victoria, BC home from March 25-29, prior to leaving for Harbin, China and the 2008 IIHF World Women’s Championship, Hockey Canada announced on Friday.

Team Canada will be in Victoria for its pre-competition camp, from March 25-29, holding practices and playing games at Bear Mountain Arena as it prepares to defend the gold medal it won at the 2007 IIHF World Women’s Championship. Canada’s National Women’s Team will play two games in Victoria against the South Island Thunderbirds and North Island Silvertips – both are boys Midget AAA teams that play in the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League.

TEAM CANADA PRACTICE SCHEDULE
(all practices are at Bear Mountain Arena and are open, free of charge, to the public – all times are subject to change) – note: all times are PST
March 26: 10-11:30 a.m.; 4:30-6:30 p.m.
March 27: 10-11 a.m.
March 28: 2-3:30 p.m.

GAME SCHEDULE
(tickets for the games are $7 and are available at www.victoriagrizzlies.com or by calling 250-385-1555)
March 27: Team Canada vs. South Island Thunderbirds, 7 p.m.
March 29: Team Canada vs. North Island Silvertips, 3 p.m.

Hockey Canada has also announced that there will be a number of activities promoting hockey development in Victoria in conjunction with the National Women’s Team camp. Also, hockey fans will get the opportunity to meet members of the National Women’s Team during an autograph session.

The development activities that will be offered in Victoria are:

• Hockey Canada and BC Hockey Coaches Camp 2008 (March 26-29)

• ESSO Fun Day (March 25)

• Hockey Canada Skills Development Camps for female Bantam and Midget-aged players (March 28)

• Experience A Dream (March 27 and March 29)
Opportunity for two local Atom female players to take part in Team Canada’s off-ice and on-ice warm up. Contact Trina Radcliffe, Hockey Canada’s manager of female development at [email protected] to register for the Experience a Dream program. Please include name, age, position, team and contact information.

• Team Canada autograph session (following Canada’s practice on March 28)

Hockey Canada will announce the National Women’s Team roster for the 2008 IIHF World Women’s Championship in early March. For more information on the National Women’s Team and the 2008 IIHF World Women’s Championship, visit www.hockeycanada.ca. Hockey Canada’s official website is also the place to find live updates on all games at the world championship.