CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada, in partnership with BC Hockey and the host committee for the 2009 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, announced on Friday the eight provincial and regional rosters for the national championship, which will take place at South Surrey Arena in Surrey, B.C. from November 4-8.

The teams have been split into two groups, with each team to play three preliminary round games. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, with the gold medal game set to air on Hockey Canada’s official broadcaster TSN/RDS on Sunday, November 8. All games, excluding the gold medal game, can be seen live via webcast through hockeycanada.fasthockey.com. Each game is available for $6.95.

The National Women’s Under-18 Championship is a very important event for Hockey Canada scouts, who use the tournament to help select Canada’s team for the IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship. This year, 21 of the 22 players who were part of Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team for a three-game series against the United States in Calgary in August will be on the ice in Surrey.

Ontario Red is chasing its sixth consecutive gold medal at the event. The team counts ten members of Canada’s National Women’s Team’s centralized roster, currently training for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, as alumnae.

A full tournament package featuring all 18 games is available for $80 each. The evening and weekend package, which includes the 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. games nightly from November 4-6 and all six playoff round games on November 7 and 8, is selling for $60. Single-game tickets cost $5 during the preliminary round and $7 during the playoff round.

In addition, a number of development programs have been scheduled leading up to the national championship, including a coach mentorship program, an Esso Fun Day to introduce first-time female hockey participants of any age to the game and a Hockey Canada Skills Camp for female Atom and Peewee players. All programs take place Nov. 1 at South Surrey Arena.

For more information on the 2009 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, visit hockeycanada.ca.