Canadian Women's Hockey League to add Calgary team and create one league

By Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press

The Canadian Women's Hockey League is expanding to Calgary and the Western Women's Hockey League has decided to disband.

The CWHL, made up of teams in Toronto, Brampton, Burlington, Montreal and Boston, announced Tuesday it plans to have a team in Calgary operating for the 2011-12 season.

The Calgary team will be made up of players from former WWHL clubs in Edmonton, Strathmore, Alta., Winnipeg and Minnesota.

Those players who aren't on the Calgary will have to find another place to play. The CWHL's business plan is to add more western teams when it can afford to do so.

"There will only be one league now across North America and that will be our leagues together," CWHL executive director Brenda Andress said.

"In the past year and half, we've looked around and said, how can we make ourselves stronger? One of the ways we've done that is to combine us into one league."

Former Strathmore Rockies player and governor Samantha Holmes says there will be short-term pain in the creation of one league.

"With the dissolving of the WWHL, we have a lot of players to take care of. We'll be working with the CWHL to try to figure out the best route to take on that," Holmes said. "The reality of it is, women's hockey is at a spot where we're either going to move ahead or stay where we are. This is our opportunity."

There was a single women's league in Canada earlier this decade called the National Women's Hockey League. Western teams broke away because of high travel costs. The NWHL suspended operations in 2007 and the current CWHL rose from the ashes, driven by the players themselves.

The CWHL owns its teams in a model similar to Major League Soccer. The league is in the process of raising money via sponsorships and fundraising to pay for the new team, which will have higher travel costs than its eastern counterparts.

Andress says operating Calgary as a pilot project next season on an abbreviated schedule will cost at least $200,000.

"Really what we're looking for is a lot more than that," she said. "To do it the way we want to do it requires close to half a million dollars."

The team has a manager, but not a coach or a home arena yet. The CWHL is looking at the new WinSport ice complex at Calgary's Canada Olympic Park as a possibility.

"I think it's a good move, but you have to do it the right way and we need really good corporate support and interest in Calgary," said Canadian national team captain Hayley Wickenheiser. "It would be nice to have a team that's housed and plays out of WinSport in the facility where Hockey Canada will be and maybe play some satellite games outside the city.

"I think we can draw some of the best players in the world to Calgary."

Wickenheiser still intends to play hockey a second year for the University of Calgary next season, but says she could play for the CWHL team in the future.

"I'm helping them as much as I can when they've asked me," she said.

One league might be more attractive to the NHL, as there have been rumblings the league is considering getting involved in women's hockey. Andress says she has been receiving advice from the NHL.

"The NHL has made statements over and over again that they believe in the women's game, support the women's hockey game," she said. "

"They're still working with us and I truly believe they will do what's right. They'll support the women's game in a way that allows us to move forward with providing a professional league. What way they're going to that, I don't know."

Copyright © 2011 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Hockey notes: Montreal Stars win Clarkson Cup

Highest honour in women's hockey

The Gazette, Postmedia News March 28, 2011

The Montreal Stars' Dominique Thibault (left) scores a goal during the Clarkson Cup final Sunday against Toronto.

MONTREAL - The Montreal Stars have been crowned 2011 Clarkson Cup champions after defeating Toronto 5-0 on Sunday in the tournament's final game.

It is the second Clarkson Cup title for the Stars, the highest honour in North American women's hockey. The Stars were perfect throughout the tournament, winning all three round-robin games and capping it off with Sunday's win.

The Stars got goals from Noémie Marin, Vanessa Davidson, Dominique Thibault, Caroline Ouellette and Sarah Vaillancourt. Montreal goalie Kim St. Pierre made 26 saves for the shutout, while Sami Jo Small made 46 saves in a losing effort.

Source: © Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

CWHL stars juggle work and play

‘We usually have to pay our own way ... it takes a big commitment’
By STEPHEN SWEET – Special to the Examiner

It's the dream of many kids to one day play hockey for a living.

For most of the women at the Clarkson Cup, that's still something that they hope to aspire to one day.

Unlike most professional sports, where the athletes will earn a living wage, players in the Canadian Women's Hockey League — or its western counterpart — often end up with a net loss by the end of the season.

"We usually have to pay our own way," said Minnesota Whitecaps defenceman Chelsey Brodt-Rosenthal. "Our vacation days from work end up going to hockey, and it takes a big commitment."

With all of the teams staying at Horseshoe Valley Resort for the length of Clarkson Cup, presented by Scotiabank, it's meant taking at least a few days off of work.

"I took an unpaid day to come here, and I was still checking my e-mails on the way here on Wednesday," said Montreal defenceman Nathalie Dery, a vice-principal at a high school in Lachine, Quebec.

Dery was named the game's second star Friday night as the Montreal Hockey Club defeated the Brampton Hockey Club 7-4 to earn a spot in Sunday's final.

"We had a really good game," Dery said. "Even when we ran into penalty trouble, we stuck to our game."

Dery keeps herself busy, thanks to work in the school, as well as being an assistant coach for Concordia University's women's hockey team. She's doing all of this while taking her Master's degree.

"On a typical day, I wake up at 5 a.m. and work at the school from 7 a.m. to (at least) 4 or 5 p.m.," Dery said.

"From there, I go and coach the Concordia practice, come home to grab supper, and then go out and practice with my team."

Some of the players, like Brampton forward and former National Team member Lori Dupuis, try to find jobs that allow them to create their own schedules.

"I think you see a lot of females in this game getting into jobs that have shift work," said Dupuis, a mortgage broker.

"It can create the ability to get times off."

Given that almost everybody who plays in the women's game has come through university, they're given the tools to succeed.

"That's one of the good things about women's hockey," Dupuis said. "We're all educated, and we can go wherever we want with our jobs."

Many of them, like Minnesota captain Winny Brodt-Brown, choose to work somewhere within the game, because of the understanding there.

"The good thing is, my boss is a hockey guy," said Brodt-Brown, who works for a hockey accessory company alongside teammate and defence partner Allie Sanchez.

"We're able to get off for tournaments and such, because they're cool with it."

For some of the more local players, like Toronto forward Frances McPhail, she wasn't able to get time off of work.

"I work at Twist Sport Conditioning in Burlington, in what's typically a 9-5 job," said McPhail, an Oakville native.

But when you have to work on days where you play a 12 p.m. game, you have to get creative.

"The past two days, I got to work at eight and worked until 10 a.m.," McPhail said. "Then, I jump in the car and drive up to Barrie to play."

It meant she missed the pre-game warmup on Thursday, though she did make it up here in time for it on Friday.

"Then, I jump back in my car, drive an hour and a half to Burlington, and work until 8:30 p.m.," McPhail said.

The players put themselves through this difficult juggling act because of both necessity to work and love for the game.

"I just enjoy the game so much," said Dery, who is considering retirement after the tournament ends. "I like it a lot, so I just live in the moment."

There's also the thought that if they don't make it through these times, the next generation won't even get that shot.

"We want to see it continue to grow, so that my nieces, 15 years from now, will have a spot to play," Brodt-Brown said. "That's why we're playing, for an opportunity."

Source: http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3045358

Canada's Best Women's Hockey Players Battle for Clarkson Cup

Adrienne Clarkson was thrilled to hear players would not touch the hockey trophy named after her, unless they'd won it.

Canada's former governor general donated the Clarkson Cup to be given annually to the best women's hockey team in the country.

NHL players don't want their fingers on the Stanley Cup unless they've won it.

Brampton forward Cherie Piper refused to handle the trophy on its recent tour of Barrie, Ont., where the third Clarkson Cup championship opens Thursday.

"Goodness, is that superstition or what?" Clarkson said. "It's become an object of important and has magic qualities.

"That's what I like. We have to have something for women that has that magic quality the way the Stanley Cup does."

Defending champion Minnesota, Montreal, Brampton and Toronto will battle for the Clarkson Cup. The winner will be crowned Sunday (TSN, tape delay 8 p.m. ET).

The championship features Canadian Olympians Piper, Jayna Hefford, Jennifer Botterill, Gillian Apps, Sarah Vaillancourt, Caroline Ouellette and Charline Labonte, as well as Julie Chu, Jenny Potter and Molly Engstrom from the U.S. Olympic team.

After handing the Clarkson Cup to the victor the last two years, Clarkson will be travelling in Europe and unable to attend this year's tournament. She's leaving the presentation of the silver trophy to her daughters Kyra and Blaise.

Minnesota represents the four-team Western Women's Hockey League (WWHL), while the other three clubs are part of the five-team Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL).

A change to the format this year has made the tournament longer. All teams play each other in a round robin Thursday to Saturday with the top two teams meeting in Sunday's final at the Barrie Molson Centre. Last year, the tournament consisted of just two semifinals and a final.

"That's a big step for us because it's more games," said Sami Jo Small, both Toronto's goalie and vice-chair of the CWHL.

"Because this is the biggest thing we have in women's hockey next to the world championship, we really wanted it to be a real festival. We wanted to create sort of a Memorial Cup-style event."

Toronto meets Brampton and Minnesota takes on 2009 champ Montreal to open the tournament Thursday.

Both women's hockey leagues in Canada are aiming for stability in the hopes their product will attract more sponsors and move them further on the road to becoming professional leagues. The CWHL is currently the more robust of the two leagues.

The CWHL brought Boston on board this season, which allowed American players on the U.S. Eastern seaboard to play in the league without having to relocate to Canada. The CWHL is a half-million dollar operation now, according to Small.

The CWHL also held a draft last summer for the first time and contracted from four to three teams in the Greater Toronto Area to make the clubs stronger and ensure parity.

The WWHL operated only three teams last season and went up to four this year with the addition of Manitoba. The league still lacks a team in Calgary. The Oval X-Treme suspended operations two seasons ago because of financial issues.

Many national team players moved from Alberta to Ontario to play in the CWHL this year, including defenceman Tessa Bonhomme and defender Delaney Collins.

Clarkson is a proponent of a women's pro league.

"They want to play hockey so much, so why do they have to have a day job and then play?" she asked. "We won our gold medal in 2010. We are really good as players.

"Why do we have to have anything like this, this idea that we're not good enough somehow to play professionally? Women want to be professional hockey players. We should be the first in the world to do it because hockey is our game."

How far the leagues are from professionalism depends on the money, Small says. While the CWHL has signed a few sponsors to three-year deals, it's still not an easy sell despite the exposure of the women's game at the 2010 Winter Games.

"It's a constant struggle," she says. "Being the sponsorship chairman of the CWHL, it's not so much you get 'no' and they're not interested in women's hockey. It's that they're supportive, but 'oh, we don't have the money right now."'

Small says the Olympics boosted the CWHL's attendance this season from "mom and dads" to an average of about 200 people per game. At $5 a ticket or $50 for season tickets, it's welcome revenue.

"We didn't really budget for much income from attendance and it definitely exceeded our expectations 10-fold," she says.

The CWHL has held off naming its teams to give prospective sponsors a say in the name, or at least get some marketing bang when they do name a team.

In the case of Toronto, they've enlisted the help of History television's "Name This" contest. From such submissions as the Toronto Fire Antz and Ontario Amazonz, the short-list includes Force, Snipes, Fury, Tornadoes and Vamps. Toronto's new name will be announced Thursday, says Small.

The team squeaked into the Clarkson Cup with a 3-1 win over Boston on March 12.

"We'd just come off a weekend where we'd lost two games to Burlington that was below us in the standings," Small says. "I'd never seen our team play like that before, diving in front of pucks and blocking shots. They really wanted to get to the Clarkson Cup."

Source: TSN (http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/story/?id=359229)

Montréal reigns supreme in women’s hockey

by Hélène Lapointe
photo by Pasquale Stalteri

The Montreal club has come out on top as the CWHL’s regular season Champion. They beat the number 2 seed Brampton in two straight games this weekend in Montreal. The playoff victory confirms Montréal’s considerable talents, having maintained the top spot in the league since the first puck dropped at the beginning of the season. This gives them home-ice advantage at the Clarkson Cup Championship on March 24-27 in Barrie Ontario, where North America’s best clubs will compete for the ultimate prize in elite women’s club hockey.

On Friday evening, an imposing Gillian Apps opened the scoring for Brampton, minutes into the first period. Caroline Ouellette replied for Montréal, to tie the game at 1-1, a score that stuck until the end of the game. Although Montréal dominated play with 44 shots on goal against Brampton’s 25, Brampton’s stellar goaltending, first by Laura Hosier, who was later taken off injured, and later by Kira Hurley, also stalwart in Saturday’s game. Things still winless after the 5-minute overtime, teams picked their top shooters. Finally, after 9 shots were equalized, Team captain Lisa-Marie Breton-Lebreux sealed the deal in front of the jubilant crowd at Concordia’s University Ed Meagher arena.

Brampton (who went to the box 9 times Friday) maintained their physical play Saturday, in front of an excitable crowd at the McGill University arena on “Fan Appreciation Night”. Brampton captain Jayna Hefford scored early, but 10 minutes later, Sabrina Harbec replied. Montreal added three goals in the third period, Brampton only 2, sealing a 4-3 victory.

A dynamic duo during their time at Harvard, Olympians Sarah Vaillancourt (Team Canada) and Julie Chu (Team USA), stood out this weekend. Vaillancourt scored one goal and two assists, including one of the most spectacular goals of the playoff, a wicked one-timer from the face-off circle that beat Hurley over her shoulder top shoulder. Chu, for her part, got three assists and mastered the blue line. “We were ready to play them,” said captain Lisa-Marie Breton-Lebreux. “We knew there would play a very physical game and prepared ourselves accordingly. We plan on re-living this experience at the Clarkson Cup,” she added.

THREE-TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST AND FIVE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION JENNIFER BOTTERILL ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

WINNIPEG, Man. – Hockey Canada announced Monday that Jennifer Botterill, one of only four Canadians to take part in all four Olympic women’s hockey tournaments and a three-time Olympic gold medallist, is retiring from Canada’s National Women’s Team.

Botterill played 184 games in a Team Canada jersey – third all-time behind Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford – recording 65 goals and 109 assists for 174 points, good for fifth all-time. She also played nine games for Canada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team, winning a gold medal at the 1998 Christmas Cup in Germany before captaining the team in a three-game series against the United States in August 1999.

The Winnipeg, Man., native won 16 gold medals during her 14-year career (1997-2010) with Canada’s National Women’s Team, including three at the Olympic Winter Games (2002, 2006, 2010), five at the IIHF World Women’s Championship (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007) seven at the 3 Nations/4 Nations Cup (1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009) and at the 2005 Torino Ice Tournament.

Botterill was named Most Valuable Player at the 2001 and 2004 IIHF World Women’s Championships, took home Top Forward honours as well in 2001 and earned a spot on the Media All-Star Team at the 2004 IIHF World Women’s Championship and 2006 Olympic Winter Games. And on February 25, 2010, Botterill set up the gold medal winning goal by Marie-Philip Poulin.

“I will always be grateful for all that hockey has given me in my playing career,” said Botterill. “I will forever treasure the experiences and opportunities that have come my way through this game. Thanks to all my teammates, coaches and trainers that have supported me over the years. I am very excited to start another chapter in my life and look forward to the possibilities that are ahead of me.”

“Throughout her career with Canada’s National Women’s Team, Jennifer Botterill has been a role model for young girls playing hockey across the country, and I am sure she will continue to do so even in retirement,” said Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. “We wish her the best in her future projects, and look forward to working with her to help continue to grow the women’s game. Her infectious smile and cheerful personality will be missed in the dressing room and on the ice.”

At the club team level, Botterill twice won gold at the Esso Women’s Nationals, in 2005 with the Toronto Aeros and 2008 with the Mississauga Chiefs, and was the first recipient of the Angela James Bowl as leading scorer of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League in its inaugural 2007-08 season, when she also picked up the league’s Top Forward award.

She spent four seasons at Harvard University (1998-2001, 2002-03), recording 319 points in 107 games and winning the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top player in U.S. women’s college hockey in 2000-01 and 2002-03, making her the only player to win the award twice. Botterill, who scored the overtime winner for Harvard to give it the American Women’s College Hockey Alliance national championship in 1999, finished her college career with at least one point in 106 of her 107 career games, including a record 80 games in a row.

For more information on Canada’s National Women’s Team, visit www.hockeycanada.ca.

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

André Brin Francis Dupont

Director, Communications Manager, Media Relations

Hockey Canada Hockey Canada

(403) 540-8444 (403) 777-4564

abrin@hockeycanada.ca fdupont@hockeycanada.ca

Jason La Rose Kristen Lipscombe

Coordinator, Content Services Coordinator, Communications

Hockey Canada Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4553 (403) 284-6427

jlarose@hockeycanada.ca klipscombe@hockeycanada.ca

Keegan Goodrich

Coordinator, Media Relations

Hockey Canada

(403) 284-6484

kgoodrich@hockeycanada.ca

Francis Dupont

Manager, Media Relations/Communications

Responsable, relations avec les médias et communications

Hockey Canada

phone/téléphone: (403) 777-4564

cell/cel: 587-999-5681

fax/télécopieur: (403) 777-3635

e-mail/courriel: fdupont@hockeycanada.ca

Playoff Time - 2010/2011 CWHL Season

It's already that time of year... Playoffs. Feels like just last week we were hosting the first ever Women's Hockey draft and here we are, already coming to the conclusion of the 2010/2011 season.

The final standings for the regular season:

Montreal - 46 Points

Brampton - 39 Points

Boston - 21 Points

Toronto - 21 Points

Burlington - 14 Points

Montreal HC - Caroline Ouellette

Brampton HC - Gillian Apps

Brampton HC traveling to play Montreal HC this weekend for bragging rights of the first round of the playoffs. The first and second place teams will be playing Friday March 11th at 4:30pm at Concordia University (Ed Meagher Arena), Saturday March 12th at McGill University (McConnell Arena McGill) at 6:30pm and Sunday facing off at 1:30pm at Leo Crepin Arena.

March 11th, 12th, and 13th also will determine whether or not Boston HC will be making one last trip out to Ontario for the Clarkson Cup or if Toronto HC will be heading down the road to take the third and final spot from the CWHL.

Toronto is heading out on the bus at 6am tomorrow morning to play a best of 3 series against Boston. Fridays game will be played at Burbank Ice Arena at 7pm, Saturday the puck will drop at 4pm at Harvard University (Bright Hockey Center) and Sunday if needed they will play again at Harvard University at 12:00pm.

All year these two teams have battled hard on the ice and have created quite the rivalry, which will no doubt continue into this weekend. Boston have taken 5 out of the 6 games this season, 2 of which were won in Over Time.

For up to the minute scores, updates and to find out who will be qualifying for the Clarkson Cup check out www.cwhl.ca or follow us on Twitter @cwhl_insider.

Swede impresses in CWHL

Rundqvist joins new Canadian women's hockey league 07-03-11
Danijela Rundqvist returned to Canada after the Olympics to play in the fledgling Canadian Women's Hockey League Photo: Courtesy Danijela Rundqvist
BURLINGTON, Canada – Danijela Rundqvist wants to make one thing perfectly clear. She is NOT the daughter of former Swedish national team captain Thomas Rundqvist. The relationship is a myth some TV commentators, ill-informed by their neophyte researchers, have been propogating at the last three Olympics. Moreover the Swedish women’s team winger doesn’t think Hans Rundqvist, who IS her father, gets nearly enough credit for the hours he has put in helping her develop as a player. “He taught me how to skate at the age of 5 and when I started to play hockey, he drove me to all of my early morning practices,” she said. “He was not a player and is not one of those parents who tries to tell you how you should play. He’s just been an amazing support.” Last month Hans took some vacation days from his job as a prison guard in Sweden, flew to Canada and showed up unannounced to watch his daughter play for the Burlington Barracudas of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. “My father was here for four games and I scored four goals for him while he was here,” she said. One of them came in a shootout to give Burlington a 5-4 win over Toronto. Rundqvist, known by her teammates as ‘Danni’, wears jersey number 55 with the Barracudas because her father was born in 1955. The Stockholm native entered her name for the CWHL’s first draft last summer and was selected 13th overall by the Barracudas. “I came to Canada because I wanted to play against the best players in the world,” she said. Rundqvist led the Barracudas in scoring with 11 goals and 15 points in 22 games, playing on the same team as Olympic gold medalist Becky Kellar of Canada. “She really had a great second half of the season,” Kellar said. “It was nice to get to know her, I’ve played against her for so many years.” Among the other Olympic gold medalists in the league are Jayna Hefford, Gillian Apps and Cherie Piper of Brampton; Caroline Ouellette, Kim St. Pierre, and Sarah Vaillancourt of Montreal; Jennifer Botterill and Tessa Bonhomme of Toronto and veteran U.S. defender Angela Ruggiero of Boston. Rundqvist has a reputation as a feisty player and has had more than one clash with Canadian star Hayley Wickenheiser. “I don’t start anything,” Rundqvist says, “but I don’t take anything either.” Kellar also recalls her rugged play. “There was one game in a pre-Olympic tournament in Vancouver in August of 2009 that got a little testy,” she said. “I’ve been on the receiving end of some of her hits. She’s a very strong girl and I was quite happy when it was us who drafted her.” Rundqvist has been boarding with the family of Ted and Fran Colley in Burlington and has become a big sister to the Colleys’ three boys Rhys, 11, Jared, 7, and Cade, 4. “All of them play hockey,” Rundqvist said. “Ted and I have been running some practices for Jared’s team, teaching them power skating.” Rundqvist says the CWHL has a higher level of play, but is not yet as well organized as the league in Sweden. She plans to play in the CWHL again next season, if she can find a way to get some financial compensation. Unlike their male counterparts in the NHL, female players often live on a shoestring. She even says asking NHLers with their multi-million-dollar salaries to sponsor players in women’s leagues might not be a bad idea. “This league needs a couple of years to get established,” she said. “But I want something to happen now, I haven’t got the patience to sit around and wait. Rundqvist once worked in customer service for Stadium, the largest sports company in Sweden, but she has been a full-time hockey player since 2009. Including the money she could have made working back home, she estimates coming to Canada for the year has cost her about $25,000. She has the full support of Niclas Högberg, who has taken over as coach of the Swedish women’s team from Peter Elander. Incredibly, Rundqvist started playing in the Swedish Women’s League at the age of 13 and was only 17 when she made her debut in the Olympics at Salt Lake City in 2002. She won the Swedish championship three times with AIK and the club also won four European titles while she was playing there. After the Swedish women won their first Olympic medal – a bronze – at Salt Lake City in 2002, each of the players received $1,500 from the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation. Rundqvist, therefore, was quite surprised when they initially received nothing for upsetting the United States in the semifinals and winding up with a silver medal at Torino in 2006. “Money is very important for us,” she said. “I called the federation to see if we would be getting something, and they said, no.” The federation later did an about-face and gave each of the silver medalists $1,500. “I just wanted them to show some appreciation for what we did,” she said. Rundqvist credits the Swedish Olympic Association with providing the impetus that resulted in a pair of Olympic medals. In the Olympic season of 2009-10, the Swedish girls received financial support, relative to the amount of money they were making in their regular jobs. Her share was $800 a month, not enough to live on, but definitely a big boost. She also has played in five World Championships, winning two bronze medals. In 190 games with the Swedish national team, she has scored 41 goals. Maria Rooth, who scored the winning goal to beat the U.S. in Torino in 2006, has retired from the national team and is working as an assistant coach to Shannon Miller at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. But Erika Holst, Sweden’s other great star, will return to play in her 10th World Championship in Switzerland in April. Veteran Gunilla Andersson, 35, is expected to make her 11th World Championship appearance on defence. Also returning are goalie Kim Martin, Elin Holmlov and Pernilla Winberg who all play college hockey for the Minnesota-Duluth in the U.S. Katarina Timglas had to have back surgery and that has forced her into retirement. One of the team’s bright new prospects is 19-year-old defenceman Linnea Backman, whom Rundqvist predicts will eventually become among the world’s best blueliners. Rundqvist flew to St. John’s, Nfld., to play for her country in the November Four Nations Tournament, but has missed monthly national team camps and subsequent international tournaments which conflicted with her CWHL schedule. The Swedes went winless in November, losing 8-1 to eventual champion Canada, but were impressive in winning the February event in Torp, Sweden, against Finland, Germany and Russia. Sweden will open its World Championship training camp in Stockholm in early April, then fly to Switzerland on April 12. The Barracudas failed to make the playoffs and their season was over by the end of February. However, Rundqvist will remain in Burlington for the month of March and has lined up practice icetime with several clubs, including the girls team at Appleby College in Oakville. “It’s been a great experience,” she said. “It was fun to be part of the first draft ever in women’s hockey. I just want to be a hockey player right now. Afterwards, I’ll be working for the rest of my life. DENIS GIBBONS

What it's all about...

On Saturday Feb 19^th, 2011 at the Master Card Centre, the Toronto HC faced off against Montreal for their last meeting of the regular season. Saturdays match up was not your regular CWHL game, the game was held as a fundraising event put on for the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) and turned out to be a great success. There were over 500 people in attendance and many fun events for all those involved. In support of the CNIB, the players all wore sun glasses for the anthem, which was sung by an amazing visually impaired individual who blew everyone away with his beautiful voice.

Some of the other events throughout the game were silent auction, chuck a puck, 50/50 but the highlight of the night was getting to experience watching the Ice Owls, a Toronto based visually impaired hockey team who played in between the first and second period. The goalies are completely blind and they play with a larger “puck” that makes sound and cannot be lifted above 3 feet off the ice within the rules of the game. What motivating and talented individuals that show us that nothing should stand in your way of doing what you love.

Following the game we held a “Skate with the Champions” which was very well attended and a fun opportunity for the players to interact with fans of all ages, taking home pictures and autographs from all the players on both teams.

We would like to say a huge thank-you for all those involved helping make the event such a success, to the fans who came out to support the CWHL and the CNIB and also to the players on both teams for sharing your time helping instill dreams in so many young players.

Montreal ended up on the winning side, defeating Toronto 4-2 solidifying their hold on first place in the league. For more details on playoffs and the Clarkson Cup, visit www.cwhl.ca or find us on Twitter and Facebook. For more information on the CNIB or on how you can show your support go to www.cnib.ca

Written by Haleigh Callison

Photos provided by Brandon Taylor – Pro Am Images

Aloha Canada!!!

Ariez, a small paper version of a student from Aikahi Elementary School in Hawaii recently made a visit to Brampton. A class from the school is participating in The Flat Stanley Project. The Flat Stanley Project grew out of a classic children's book by the same name, written by Jeff Brown. In the story, Stanley, a regular boy, is squashed flat by a falling bulletin board. On the bright side, he discovers that his parents can slip him into an envelope and mail him to visit friends in faraway places. In real life, students in thousands of classrooms around the world participate in the Flat Stanley Project. There are many versions of the project, however the main theme is that students create a ‘flat Stanley’, either a copy of the boy from the book or make paper versions of themselves, and are sent all over the world where their adventures are recorded and sent back to the student to learn about different cultures. During Ariez’s stop in Brampton, she was able to watch a Canadian Women’s Hockey League game when the Brampton HC hosted the Montreal HC on February 20^th. Ariez was not only able to experience elite women’s hockey, but was greeted by Brampton HC’s Jayna Hefford and Gillian Apps who were happy to show her their Olympic Gold Medals.

Provided by Shelby Baker

FANS INVITED TO MEET OLYMPIC STARS IN CHARITY HOCKEY EVENT

For Immediate Release

FANS INVITED TO MEET OLYMPIC STARS IN CHARITY HOCKEY EVENT

Canadian Women’s Hockey League plans fundraiser for CNIB

TORONTO – On Saturday evening, February 19, come out and see the best in women’s hockey. Then stay – and skate – as the fun continues.

The Toronto Hockey Club of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) is scheduled to play Montreal at 6:15 p.m. at Master Card Centre arena. This game between two highly skilled teams will feature seven gold-medal Olympians: Kim St-Pierre, Caroline Ouellette, Sarah Vaillantcourt, Julie Chu, Tessa Bonhomme and Jennifer Botterill, and Sami Jo Small.

Sami Jo Small has close connections with the CNIB, noting “I come from a long line of optometrists and my family would always volunteer at the CNIB in Winnipeg. I’d go in to read books to the blind. I know how important vision health is and I have a very close family connection to the CNIB and so I brought it to the team.”

“When the idea came up, the whole team came together to tackle the various tasks to make the event happen. I feel really positive about how hard we’ve worked to help out a great cause,” added Haleigh Callison.

The game will feature door prizes, a Silent Auction, a section for visually impaired fans with LIVE play-by-play, an autograph session, and for a $5 donation you can take to the ice and skate with the players after the game. Other surprises will also occur on Saturday making this game extra special!

All of the extras for Saturday’s game were organized by an already busy team that must balance, work, hockey, school, and other commitments, but Alexandra Hoffmeyer understands that “any time you are in the position where you can help out a greater cause, I think it's really important to do so. I've spent many years playing hockey and being taught the importance of giving back to a community that supports you.” She continued, saying “because we have this platform and many players on our team are in the spotlight even more given their status as Olympians, I think it is a great chance to help organizations such as CNIB in generating more awareness and funds using this reach.”

The CNIB provides valuable support and resources to those affected by vision loss in Canada. As of 2007 there were over 108,000 legally blind Canadians and many more that experience partial vision loss.

No tickets required. Entrance to the game and festivities is free when accompanied with a donation to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. For game spectators with a visual impairment, a special seating section has been set up to provide live play-by-play. The Master Card Centre is located at 400 Kipling Avenue in Toronto.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

Event Media

Angela Di Stasi

416-599-9900 ext.229

adistasi@newscanada.com

Chief Organizer CWHL

Sami Jo Small

416-524-7625

samismall@hotmail.com

Toronto Media Relations

Meg Black

416-436-9575

Ms.megblack@gmail.com

Fans Invited to Meet Olympic Stars at Women's Hockey Game

Canadian Women's Hockey League Plans Fundraiser for CNIB

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 11, 2011) - On Saturday evening, February 19, come out and see the best in women's hockey. Then stay – and skate – as the fun continues.

The Toronto Hockey Club of the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) is scheduled to play the Montreal team at 6:15 p.m. in the arena of the Master Card Centre. You are invited to this highly skilled sports event – and so are seven gold-medal Olympians: Kim St-Pierre, Caroline Ouellette, Sarah Vaillantcourt, Julie Chu, Sami Jo Small, Tessa Bonhomme and Jennifer Botterill.

At a designated time during the evening, game spectators will be invited onto the ice for another highlight: Skate With The Champions. For a $5 donation per person, this will be your chance to mix and mingle, say hello to players, get your autographs, and encourage your kids to feel like little Olympians too. Door prizes and other surprises are in store including a Silent Auction fundraiser with several must-have items.

No tickets required. Entrance to the game and festivities is free when accompanied with a donation to the Canadian National Institute For The Blind. For game spectators with a visual impairment, a special seating section has been set up to provide live and up-close, play-by-play. The Master Card Centre is located at 400 Kipling Avenue in Toronto.

Clarkson Cup heading to Barrie - Feb 5th 2011

Clarkson Cup heading to Barrie

Clarkson Cup heading to Barrie. Barrie will play home to the biggest annual event in women’s hockey. The Clarkson Cup will be contested at The Barrie Molson Centre from March 24 to 27. Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman drops the puck for Haleigh Callison, left, and Olympian Sami Jo Small during the event's announcement. Stan Howe photo

Barrie will play home to the biggest annual event in women’s hockey. The Clarkson Cup will be contested at The Barrie Molson Centre from March 24 to 27. Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman drops the puck for Haleigh Callison, left, and Olympian Sami Jo Small during the event's announcement.

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Name This

History Television is doing a segment on the Toronto HC to try and find a name for the club. Check out the link below to see the video and if you have any suggestions for names we'd love to hear them!! There is only 550 on there as of right now.... :-) Not a bad start!!!

http://namethis.ca/

Attendance 1000+

Not necessarily the numbers you would may expect to hear from the Women’s side but with the attendance for the CWHL being up already 700% from last season at this point we are excited to see even more growth in the next few months. This past Friday, January 21st, Georgetown did an absolutely incredible job of hosting Toronto HC and Brampton HC at the Mold-Masters Arena. Every last detail was taken care of, from the marketing of the game to get the 1000+ fans out, to the well organized and set up autograph session following the game.

The game was a high tempo, physical match up between 2 strong teams filled with many past and current Olympians and National Team members. From Brampton, Gillian Apps, Jayna Hefford, Lori Depuis, Delaney Collins and Molly Engstrom, and from Toronto, Sami Jo Small, Tessa Bonhomme and Jennifer Botterill. The game was a 5-2 win by Brampton which puts them with a strong hold of second place heading into the close of the season. They sit only 3 points behind 1st place Montreal right now, with Montreal having 3 games in hand. Toronto is currently only one point behind Boston for 3rd, also with Boston having 2 games in hand.

As a player for one of those teams I would like to say a HUGE thank-you to all those involved in making Friday night happen. We felt more then taken care of with snacks in the dressing room to being escorted by younger players to our room when we arrived. The girls did a great job singing the Anthem and atmosphere the entire evening was one that helps us take a step
towards the professionalism that we aspire to continue to have within our league.

So once again, a big thank-you from all the players and staff of the CWHL for hosting us in Georgetown and we look forward to playing there again in the future and we hope to have you out to another game this season. Best of luck to all the young players who attended Friday nights game and keep having fun playing this amazing sport!!!

Welcome!!!

Well as we are nearing the final stretch of the 2010/2011 hockey season, we are also looking to open more doors in the social media world. We are excited to share the experiences of the teams as well as of the players within the league. We will be keeping you up to date with articles in the news as well as opening the blog up to players to share what it is like to be a part of this league as it grows into something even greater.

Games to look for this weekend are:

Saturday -

Boston vs. Montreal at 3pm @ Etiene-Desmarteau

Brampton vs. Burlington at 3:30pm @ Cassie Campbell Community Centre

Sunday -

Boston vs. Montreal at 1pm @ Ed Meagher Arena (Concordia University)

Burlington vs. Toronto at 1:15pm @ Icelands

Hope everyone has a great day and look forward to seeing you at the rink this weekend!!!