CALGARY, AB - The Canadian Hockey Association named four sites that have been short-listed to host the 2004 IIHF Women's World Hockey Championship, the CHA announced on Friday.

The four bid groups will make formal presentations to the 2004 IIHF Women's World Hockey Championship Site Selection Committee on in Calgary, AB. The four groups still vying for the 2004 Women's World Hockey Championship are:

• Sport Cape Breton

• Events Halifax

• Ontario Women's Hockey Association/City of Hamilton

• City of Vancouver

A bid from the City of Saskatoon was withdrawn last month.

Bid applicants submitted written presentations to the Canadian Hockey Association on or prior to to be considered for the 2004 Women's Worlds. Based on the information contained in the written presentations, the 2004 IIHF Women's World Hockey

Championship Site Selection Committee short-listed the four bid groups named today. The Committee will make a final recommendation to the Canadian Hockey Association's Board of Directors who will announce a decision no later than .

The site will then be subject to final approval by the International Ice Hockey Federation.

The 2004 IIHF Women's World Hockey Championship would take place in April 2004 and would mark the fourth time Canada has hosted the Women's World Hockey Championship.

The three previous events were held in Ottawa, ON (1990), Kitchener, ON (1997) and Mississauga, ON (2000).