TORONTO – Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Team arrived in Linkoping, Sweden today (Tuesday) for a five-day pre-competition camp in preparation for the 2005 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship, taking place April 2-9 in Linkoping and Norrkoping, Sweden.

Team Canada’s pre-competition schedule over the next five days features:
• Daily practices in Linkoping from March 29 – April 2
• A pre-competition game - CANADA vs. FINLAND on March 31st in Norrkoping, Sweden

Visit www.hockeycanada.ca for updates on Canada’s National Women’s Team in Sweden, as well as to ‘email your favorite player’.

“We have been preparing for the World Championship since last spring and everyone is excited to get to Sweden and get started,” said Canada’s Head Coach Melody Davidson. “We have five days before our first tournament game and I think that will give us plenty of time to get acclimated and focused for the first game.”

Canada has won all eight IIHF World Women’s Championships, and is looking to tie the IIHF record for nine consecutive victories at the World Championships, a record that is currently held by the Soviet Union’s Men’s team.

The 2005 IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship runs from April 2-9, 2005 in Linkoping and Norrkoping, Sweden. Canada will open the World Championship on Sunday, April 3, versus Kazakstan, starting at 2:00pm ET / 11am PT. All of Canada’s games will be broadcast LIVE on TSN/RDS (check local listings).

Team Canada’s 2005 IIHF World Women’s Championship Game Schedule:

Sunday, April 3 | 2:00pm / 11am PT |CANADA vs. Kazakstan

Monday, April 4 | 2:00pm / 11am PT |CANADA vs. Russia

Wednesday, April 6 | 2:00pm / 11am PT |CANADA vs. Sweden

Canada’s schedule after these three games depends upon its placing and record. Semi-finals take place on Friday, April 8th and the gold medal and bronze medal games take place on Saturday, April 9th.