ST. JOHN’S, N.L.. – Hockey Canada, in partnership with Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador, has announced that Canada’s National Women’s Team will play the Midget AAA St. John’s Pennecon Privateers in an exhibition game prior to the 2010 4 Nations Cup.

The game against the Pennecon Privateers, host team for the 2011 TELUS Cup, Canada’s National Midget Championship, is set for 3:30 p.m. NT on Sunday, November 7 at The Glacier Ice Arena in Mount Pearl, N.L. The 2010 4 Nations Cup, featuring the top four women’s hockey teams in the world, starts Tuesday, November 9 in St. John’s and Clarenville, N.L. and culminates with the gold medal game at 7:30 p.m. NT on Saturday, November 13.

In total, Canada’s National Women’s Team played 31 games against Midget AAA teams during the 2009-10 season, winning 22 of them before going on to win gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.

“Canada’s many games against Midget AAA teams last season played a pivotal role in helping the team prepare for Vancouver,” said Kalli Quinn, director of female national teams for Hockey Canada. “So facing off against the St. John’s Pennecon Privateers will give National Women’s Team members the chance to mesh on the ice before taking on their toughest international competition at the 2010 4 Nations Cup.”

Canada’s roster for the 2010 4 Nations Cup includes 14 members of the gold medal-winning team from the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Canada’s National Women’s Team joins the United States, Finland and Sweden at the 15th edition of the international tournament, which is being held in St. John’s and Clarenville to help Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador mark its 75th anniversary. This season’s National Junior Team development camp, held from August 4-8 in St. John’s, and the 2011 TELUS Cup, coming to St. John’s from April 18-24, are also being held in the province as part of this celebration, with support from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Newfoundland and Labrador has not hosted the TELUS Cup  since 1989.

In preparation for its game against the St. John’s Pennecon Privateers and the 2010 4 Nations Cup, Canada’s National Women’s Team is practising at The Glacier Ice Arena in Mount Pearl, N.L. today at 2 p.m. NT and Saturday at 4 p.m. NT. Canada moves to the Mile One Centre on Monday, November 8 for a final practice at 2:30 p.m. NT before the 2010 4 Nations Cup starts.

Single-game tickets for the 2010 4 Nations Cup range in price from $10 to $25, while packages for games at the Mile One Centre are available at prices ranging from $25 for two games on Friday, November 12 to $75 for all six games at the St. John’s arena. A two-game package is also available for the Clarenville Events Centre for $35. Ticket prices do not include service fees.

BROADCAST INFORMATION: Both the Canada-Finland game on Friday, November 12 and the gold medal game on Saturday, November 13 will be broadcast on TSN/RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada. Check your local listings for 2010 4 Nations Cup broadcast times in your area.

The other six games will be available via webcast at hockeycanada.fasthockey.com on a pay-per-view basis for $7 per game, except for Canada’s opening game against the United States at 7:30 p.m. NT on Tuesday, November 9, which is being offered free of charge.

MEDIA INFORMATION: Francis Dupont, Hockey Canada’s manager of media relations and communications, and Kristen Lipscombe, Hockey Canada’s coordinator of communications, will be on site in St. John’s and Clarenville. Please contact Francis at 587-999-5681 or [email protected], and Kristen at 403-826-4819 or [email protected], for interview requests leading up to and during the 2010 4 Nations Cup.