ARNPRIOR, ON - Ticket packages and information were released today in Arnprior, ON for the 2002 Esso Women's National Hockey Championship. Co-chairs for the event, Glenn Arthur and Glen Goslin made the announcement Monday at the Nick Smith Centre (formerly the Arnprior District Civic Centre).

The communities of Arnprior and Renfrew, ON, are in final preparations for the 21st edition of the Esso Women's National Hockey Championship, which will take place March 6-10, 2002.

Ticket packages for the event are as follows: Tournament passes can be purchased for $35.00 at the door or fans can save $5.00 by purchasing them in advance for $30.00. Day passes for the tournament are also available for $10.00 at the door as well as half-day passes for $5.00. All advance ticket purchases (Visa and Mastercard are accepted) can be made by calling the Nick Smith Centre, in Arnprior at (613) 623-7301 or the Ma-Te-Way Activity Center, in Renfrew at (613) 432-3131.

The 2002 Esso Women's Nationals will be presented by the Canadian Hockey Association, the Ontario Women's Hockey Association and the premier sponsors of the CHA: Esso, Bauer NIKE Hockey and Royal Bank Financial Group.

The 2001 Esso Women's Nationals in Summerside, PEI featured 12 members of Canada's National Women's Team which took part in the 2001 IIHF World Women's Hockey Championship in Minneapolis, USA. Seven players from Team Canada's Silver medal winning entry at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics also took part last year as Alberta defeated Québec 1-0 in a thrilling final to capture the championship. Last year's Championship also showcased 13 members of Canada's National Women's Team, which will be participating in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, UT in February.

The tournament opens with two pools of teams playing a round-robin with the top three teams in each pool qualifying for the playoff round. The top teams in each pool receive a bye to the semi-finals. The Bronze and Gold medal games are played on the final day of the tournament.

TSN/RDS, the official broadcaster of the CHA will be carrying the Gold Medal game coast to coast on March 10, 2002.
Esso has been involved as the title sponsor of the Women's National Hockey Championship for the past six years and has been a long-time premier sponsor of the CHA and women's hockey in Canada.