CALGARY – Hockey Canada announced on Friday that the National Women’s Team Fall Festival will take place in Prince George, BC from September 1-8, 2007 at the Prince George Coliseum.

The Fall Festival will include three teams – two from Canada and Sweden’s National Women’s Team – and will be used by Hockey Canada staff to evaluate and develop players and staff for its National Women’s Team that will complete in the 4 Nations Cup in November in Sweden and the 2008 IIHF World Women’s Championship in Harbin, China.

“The Fall Festival gives us, as a staff, a chance to see which players could make an impact for us on the international stage during the 2007-08 season,” says Melody Davidson, general manager of Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Teams. “This event will prove to be competitive. Hockey fans in Prince George are going to see players battling for spots on our National Women’s Team for the upcoming season and centralization for the 2010 Winter Olympics.”

Prince George was chosen based on its history with Hockey Canada, along with its outstanding facilities. The 2007 RBC Royal Bank Cup was held in Prince George in May. Also, the 2001 Air Canada Cup, now the TELUS Cup, was held in Prince George.

“We had great community support and enthusiasm to host this event in Prince George,” says Virginia Sprangers, manager of sport with Events Prince George. “We have a short time to get ready for this event, but we know Prince George will come together to ensure our visiting athletes and officials are treated to a first-class experience.”

In late August, Hockey Canada will announce the rosters of the teams involved in the Fall Festival, along with the schedule.