SCORE BOARD

CALGARY, AB –Canada’s top female hockey players, including Olympic gold medalists from 20, will be in attendance at the 2006-07 National Women’s Team September Festival in Kenora, Ontario from September 2-10, 2006.

The list of invited players, expected to be a list of up to 60 players, will be announced at the end of August, at the conclusion of the National Under-22 Selection Camp which is underway in Ottawa, ON, through August 20th, and after a three-game series against the U.S. National Under-22 Team in Ottawa (August 24, 25, 27).

The final list of invited players will be the result of extensive scouting by Hockey Canada’s Head Scout of the National Women’s Team, Wally Kozak, in collaboration with regional scouts. Kozak attended numerous women’s hockey camps and events during the 2006-07 season and with additional input from members of the National Women’s Team coaching staffs and National Women’s Team Head Coach and General Manager Melody Davidson, Kozak will assemble this list of players for the Kenora camp

The players at this camp in Kenora will all be vying for positions with the 2007 World Championship Team for the 2007 IIHF World Women’s Championship, which will take place in Winnipeg and Selkirk, Manitoba from April 3-10, 2007. (Tickets are on sale now for the World Women’s in April through www.ticketmaster.ca). The coaching and scouting staff will also use this Kenora camp as an opportunity to evaluate and identify players for upcoming seasons leading up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, BC.

“It’s exciting for the coaching staff to get the season underway with this Fall Festival in Kenora,” said General Manager and Head Coach Melody Davidson. “This promises to be a very competitive event, with veteran players from the Olympic team, very talented senior players and our top Under-22 players who will push the veterans for their positions on the World Championship roster”

"The City of Kenora is thrilled to have the opportunity to host the Women's National Women’s Team Fall Festival," says Councillor Ted Szajewski, Chair of the City of Kenora Community & Leisure Services Committee.  "Kenora has shown Hockey Canada that we can support high calibre events--we have first class facilities in our newly refurbished Recreation Centre and of course, our world famous warm hospitality.  In typical Kenora fashion, we are making this event a celebration.  The whole community is looking forward to watching some great women's hockey and meeting some of the best hockey players in the world" 

The players attending Canada’s National Women’s Team September Festival will be divided into three teams by the coaching staff once the roster is announced at the end of August, and will play a series of intersquad games in Kenora. All practices and game day skates are open to the public free of charge.

Tickets for all games are available for purchase at the Kenora Recreation Centre Box Office (807) 467-2087. Ticket prices are as follows:

$5 for the Championship Game and all games from Monday, September 4 through Wednesday, September 6;

$2 for all games on Thursday, September 7, Friday, September 8 and the morning of Saturday, September 9.