OTTAWA, Ont. – Hockey Canada, along with the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship host committee, announced Monday at Rideau Hall that His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston will serve as patrons of the event, which runs April 2-9 in Ottawa.

The Governor General of Canada, along with his entire family, has had a long and proud association with the sport of hockey. As patrons of the world championship, the Governor General and Mrs. Johnston will be involved in ceremonial events and host a reception for team leaders at Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General.

“We are extremely excited to have His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston join the world championship as patrons,” Hockey Canada president and CEO Bob Nicholson said. “Given their passion for hockey, and that Canada’s capital region is hosting the best women’s hockey players in the world, we think this is a great opportunity to further promote female hockey in Ottawa and throughout Canada.”

“It is an honour for Sharon and I to be patrons of this championship, continuing this office’s link to women’s hockey, which dates back more than a century,” said Johnston. “In the late 1800s, Lord Stanley’s daughter, Isobel, became one of the first female hockey players in Canada, starting a great tradition that women across this country have followed. In my opinion, women’s hockey, which has made great strides in the last 25 years, may just be the pinnacle of hockey.”

The 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, the 15th such event, will be the last world championship prior to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Canada is the defending champion, having won the gold medal in Burlington, Vt., last year with a dramatic 5-4 overtime win over the United States in the gold medal game. Overall, Canada has won 10 gold medals at the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship (1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2012).

Ottawa hosted the first ever women’s world championship in 1990, and the 2013 event will mark the sixth time it comes to Canada, after Winnipeg, Man. (2007), Halifax, N.S. (2004), Mississauga, Ont. (2000), Kitchener, Ont. (1997) and Ottawa (1990).

A variety of ticket packages for the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship are on sale now and are available for games at SBP Arena, home of the Ottawa Senators, all Team Canada games and all medal round games. For more ticket information, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca/2013ottawa, and to purchase 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship ticket packages, please CLICK HERE.

In addition to the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, the Ottawa area will host more than 450 teams from across Ontario for the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association provincials.

For more information on Canada’s National Women’s Team and the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca/nwt and www.hockeycanada.ca/2013ottawa, or follow along through social media at www.facebook.com/worldwomens, www.twitter.com/hc_women and www.twitter.com/hc_wwhc.