KITCHENER, ON – Canada captured its ninth 4 Nations Cup in eleven years on Saturday night, with a 5-2 win over USA in front of over 4500 fans at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.

Goals by Cherie Piper and Carla MacLeod in the first period staked Canada to a quick 2-0 lead at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. Hayley Wickenheiser and Caroline Ouellette padded the lead in the second period, but the U.S. made a game of it with goals by Natalie Darwitz and Kristin King in the third period. An empty net goal by Jennifer Botterill ensured the win for Canada. This marked the first time that Canada and U.S. have met in a tournament final since the 2005 IIHF World Women’s Championship in Sweden, a game that the U.S. won 2-1 in a shootout.

The 4 Nations Cup has been an annual event since 1994. It brings together the top four nations in women’s hockey in the world: Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States of America. This year, the 4 Nations Cup is being held in Kitchener, ON, starting on November 7th and concluding on Saturday, November 11th.

This year’s 4 Nations Cup event is taking place during Hockey Canada Week, a national recognition of hockey across Canada, that is celebrated from November 4th to 11th. The 4 Nations Cup is one of many events and initiatives happening this week, check www.hockeycanada.ca for more details.

As well as being the two-time defending Olympic women’s hockey champions, Canada has now won nine Nations Cups (’06, ’05, ‘04, ’02, ’01, ’00, ’99, ’98, ’96) of eleven Nation Cup events, dating back to the inaugural event in 1996 (USA won in 19).

Canada’s National Women’s Team Program will convene for a training camp in Calgary in January, 2006 and will name a World Championship roster. The 2007 IIHF World Women’s Championship will be held in Winnipeg, MB from April 3-10, 2006.

For World Championship ticket information, visiting any Ticketmaster outlet, by calling Ticketmaster at (204) 780-3333 or purchasing ticket packages on line at www.ticketmaster.ca.

For more information on the 2006 4 Nations Cup, the 2006 IIHF World Women’s Championship, Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Team, go to www.hockeycanada.ca