ANTIGONISH, NOVA SCOTIA – Canada’s National Women’s Team concluded it’s preparations for the 2004 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship with a convincing 9-1 win over Sweden on Sunday at a sold out Millenium Centre in Antigonish, NS.

Jayna Hefford (Kingston, ON) scored twice while Jennifer Botterill (Winnipeg, MB) added three assists as Canada defeated Sweden 9-1 in its one and final tune-up game for the 2004 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship. A crowd of 1805 was in attendance for the game at the Keating Millenium Centre in Antigonish (NS), a game in which Canada dominated from the opening whistle. Cassie Campbell, Kelly Béchard, Caroline Ouellette, Becky Kellar, Delaney Collins, Danielle Goyette and Cherie Piper added goals while Kim St-Pierre and Sami Jo Small shared goaltending duties for the win.

Head Coach Karen Hughes also used Canada’s only exhibition game on Sunday to introduce the team’s captain and assistant captains for the 2004 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship. Veteran forward Cassie Campbell, of Brampton, ON will return as team captain for a third season. Assistant captains will be Vicky Sunohara (Scarborough, ON) and Hayley Wickenheiser (Shaunavon, SK).

Team Canada will be arriving in Halifax late Sunday night, before the World Championship opens on Tuesday, March 30. Canada will open up with a game on Tuesday against China at 8 pm (Atlantic) at the Halifax Metro Centre.

Team Canada’s schedule for March 29th and 30th is as follows:

Monday, March 29th / 10:00-10:30am / Media Availability / Halifax Metro Centre

Tuesday, March 30th / 11-11:45am / Practice / Halifax Metro Centre

The 2004 IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship runs from March 30- in Halifax and Dartmouth.