CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has announced that Canada’s National Women’s Team will face the United States’ Women’s National Team in a series of six exhibition games, as well as during the 2009 Hockey Canada Cup, ahead of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.

“The 2009-10 season will be an exciting one for women’s hockey,” said Melody Davidson, head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Team. “We look forward to a great season, and to showcase women’s hockey at its best, as we prepare to represent Canada proudly in Vancouver in February.”

The two nations will split the hosting duties for the six exhibition contests, with each country hosting three games.

• Victoria, B.C. Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

Tickets: Available through Select Your Tickets at www.selectyourtickets.com, by phone at 250-220-7777 or in person at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre box office. Tickets on sale .

• Spokane, Wash. Spokane Arena
• Denver, Colo. Magness Arena
• Calgary, Alta. Pengrowth Saddledome

Tickets: Available at the Pengrowth Saddledome ticket office and TicketMaster ticket outlets. For phone orders call 403-777-0000 or order online at www.ticketmaster.ca. Tickets on sale .

• St. Paul, Minn. Xcel Energy Center
• Ottawa, Ont. Scotiabank Place

Tickets: Order online at capitaltickets.ca. Tickets also available by phone at 613-599-FANS (3267) or 1-877-788-FANS (3267), in person at The Sens Store at Rideau Centre and Place d’Orleans, Centrepointe Theatre, any Ottawa Sport Experts location and at the Scotiabank Place box office. Tickets on sale .

Tickets for all three games in the United States can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.com.

Canada and the United will be joined by Finland and Sweden for the 2009 Hockey Canada Cup, scheduled for August 31 to September 6 at UBC Thunderbird Arena and General Motors Place in Vancouver, the same venues that will host women’s hockey at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Full-tournament packages for the 2009 Hockey Canada Cup, including tickets to all 10 games, are available now for $120 through www.ticketmaster.ca..