OTTAWA – The government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced that Sport Canada is providing $500,000 in funding for the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, taking place April 2-9, 2013 in Ottawa.

The financial support is a result of Sport Canada’s Hosting Program, which aims to enhance sport development across the country by assisting sport organizations in offering national and international events, in order to create lasting athletic, cultural, economic and social legacies.

“The Harper Government is pleased to announce support for an event that will offer our Canadian women athletes the opportunity to compete against some of the world’s best on home soil as they continue to be a huge inspiration to a younger generation of hockey players,” Minister of State Bal Gosal said.

“Hosting the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship will not only provide an economic boost to the Ottawa region, it will also demonstrate that Canada is truly a leading sport nation.”

The venues for the 15th IIHF World Women’s Championship will be the SBP Arena in Ottawa and the Nepean Sportsplex. It will be the sixth time that the event will be held in Canada and the second time in the nation’s capital. The inaugural World Women’s in 1990 was also held in Ottawa.

“Hockey Canada can’t thank the Government of Canada enough for its support of this prestigious event, featuring the best women’s hockey in the world,” said Bob Nicholson, Hockey Canada’s President and CEO and newly elected IIHF Vice-President.

“We know this event will be exciting for hockey fans, and will also inspire more young girls to get into the great Canadian game and experience all the benefits of participating in team sport.”

“This shows how important hockey and sports in general is to the Canadians and to its highest political leadership,” says IIHF President René Fasel. “To support the women’s annual flagship event is an excellent decision and a wonderful gesture by the Stephen Harper government.”

The 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship is being hosted in partnership by Hockey Canada, the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association and Senators Sports and Entertainment, who also announced Thursday its slogan for this spring’s event, Don’t Miss the Moment, and new ticket packages that will give fans the best bang for their buck:

• The Team Canada package includes all games featuring Canada’s National Women’s Team and all medal round games, starting at just $184;

• The Gold Medal 3-Pack features six games over three days, including two quarter-finals and both medal games, starting at just $99;

• The Canada-USA 3-Pack features six games over three days including the preliminary game between Canada and the United States on April 2, two quarter-finals and both semi-finals, starting at just $89;

• New group rates are also available, and all ticket packages are subject to handling fees.

Don’t Miss the Moment was chosen as the slogan for the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship to express that participating in this event, whether as a player, fan or volunteer, is a unique opportunity to witness sport history, and what is anticipated to be the most well-attended women’s hockey event ever.

It will be the last major women’s championship prior to the 2014 Olympics in Sochi where Canada will be the defending gold medallist from Vancouver 2010.

“It’s only appropriate that the women’s world championship come back to Ottawa, home of the first-ever event 23 years ago,” Senators Sports & Entertainment president Cyril Leeder said. “We look forward to seeing fans fill our arenas to watch the top female players from across the globe take to the ice this April.”

The last time SBP Arena hosted Canada’s National Women’s Team was Jan. 1, 2010, when 16,347 fans filled the stands, breaking a women’s hockey game attendance record, and watched Canada edge the United States 3-2 in a shootout.

“Bringing the women’s world championship back to Canada’s capital will inspire younger generations of girls to try hockey and stay in the game,” Ontario Women’s Hockey Association president Fran Rider said. “We are thrilled to hold our annual provincial championships in conjunction with this event, and know this will be a wonderful way to promote and grow our sport.”

The 2013 edition will mark the sixth time Canada has hosted the women’s world championship, joining 1990 in Ottawa, Ont., 1997 in Kitchener, Ont., 2000 in Mississauga, Ont., 2004 in Halifax, N.S., and 2007 in Winnipeg, Man.

For more information on the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, please follow www.Twitter.com/HC_WWHC, become a fan at www.Facebook.com/WorldWomens and visit www.HockeyCanada.ca/2013Ottawa.

COURTESY OF HOCKEY CANADA WITH FILES FROM IIHF