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Oakville welcomes "cool" new National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) franchise Oakville, ON. - Oakville will soon be treated to a cool brand of hockey that is fast, highly competitive and ultimately great fun to watch now that the newly named Oakville ICE (of the National Women's Hockey League) is slated to play their 2003-2004 season here. Bill Metcalfe, owner and governor of the Mississauga Ice Bears announced at a reception party held at the Canlan Ice Sports Arena that the team will move to Oakville immediately and be renamed the Oakville ICE. Owner of the Mercedes Benz dealership in Oakville, Metcalfe's passion for hockey is well know in hockey circles throughout the Western GTA. And he's just as passionate about his hometown." I love the city of Oakville, I live here, work here and it only made sense for me to bring the sport I love so much to this great city, and give back to this community." The team currently features a sensational roster of talented female players including several US and Canadian National Team stars, three of whom have recently been signed to the ICE for the upcoming season. Carly Haggard of Team Canada Under 22, Kim Insalaco and Genevieve Richardson of the US national team have been signed and Metcalfe has indicated that additional high caliber players are being courted to join the ICE. The Oakville ICE will take to ice at the soon-to-be refurbished Canlan ICE Sports arena where the team will play home games on the Oakville Mercedes Rink #1. This rink will be part of a renovation to the facility that will see additional seating and a new 1,000 sq.ft. team club house complete with exclusive Oakville ICE facilities, change rooms, offices and storage space. The announcement of the new NWHL team's imminent arrival in Oakville was part of other key women's hockey announcements made at the reception. Metcalfe also outlined plans to launch a coordinated marketing and sponsorship program for the ICE as well as plans to expand the appeal of women's hockey throughout Oakville. These plans include the addition of the Jr. AA Oakville ICE team. This team has been created for girls 15-18 and will act as a stepping-stone to university scholarships, Team Ontario, Team Canada Under 22, the NWHL and the Canadian National Team. The team will play in the South Western Girls Hockey League (SWGHL) and serve to develop the talent and skills of young women for the NWHL and National team level of play. "If we can create a system by which we nurture the confidence and inspire them to succeed, young girls who aspire to be hockey players can achieve these dreams and we can assist in elevating women's hockey and our national sport to a new level." "The Oakville ICE represents an exceptional quality of hockey that will inspire our local Oakville Hornets organization players. And we have great plans to provide access to the skills and experience of our ICE team members," said Metcalfe. "Our vision for the Oakville ICE is to create an entertaining, exciting brand of hockey and an organization that supports all aspect of women's hockey throughout Oakville, and surrounding regions" said Metcalfe. -end- Photography available upon request |
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| For full coverage go to the official NWHL website at: www.nwhlhockey.com | ||||||||||||
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