MONTREAL, QUEBEC - The 1999 3 Nations Cup in Montreal and Sherbrooke, QC, from November 28- will feature the three medal-winning countries from last year's Women's World Hockey Championship and the 1998 Winter Olympics: Canada, USA and Finland, the Canadian Hockey Association announced Tuesday.

Canada's coaching staff will use this tournament as part of an evaluation process to choose a final roster that will represent Canada at the 2000 Women's World Hockey Championship in Mississauga, ON from April 3-9, 2000. The final Team Canada roster for the 2000 Women's World Hockey Championship will not be announced until mid-February.

The 3 Nations Cup and a series of games that will take place in January will be opportunities to evaluate the over 40 players vying for a final roster spot in different situations. The National Women's Team's roster will continue to change for the January tour and until February's announcement.

"We see this as a great opportunity to evaluate players in the context of a quality international competition," said Mel Davidson, Head Coach of Canada's National Women's Team. "The 3 Nations Cup is one of two remaining opportunities during the 1999-2000 season that we have to evaluate players prior to naming the final roster for the 2000 Women's World Hockey Championship."

Canada's roster includes 13 members of Canada's gold medal winning National Women's Team at the 1999 Women's World Hockey Championship and 11 members of Canada's silver medal winning Team at the 1998 Winter Olympics.

Team USA includes 10 gold medallists from the 1998 Winter Olympics as well as 13 members of the USA's silver medal winning Team at the 1999 Women's World Hockey Championship.

Finland has 12 members of it's bronze medal winning team at the 1999 Women's World Hockey Championship and 10 players who won bronze at the 1998 Winter Olympics.

The Québec Centre of Excellence will also coordinate a number of activities surrounding the 3 Nations Cup: a Female Hockey Coaching clinic on with Danièle Sauvageau, France St-Louis, Mike Johnston (Vancouver Canucks) and Roland Melanson (Montreal Canadiens); a MAHG Demonstration on during the USA-Canada game; and a practice with France St-Louis, Danièle Sauvageau and players from the National Women's Under 22 team on December 4th 1999.