CWHL League Asks Business Community to Open Their Wallets
Toronto - January 31, 2008

The Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) is making no secret of the fact that it needs financial support and is looking to Canada's business community to help provide it.

The league is staging a networking event inviting Toronto's business elite and asking them to bring their cheque books.

Sami Jo Small, former Olympic gold medal winner and goalie for the Mississauga Chiefs points out that the CWHL is a not-for-profit organization but the reality is it can't do what it wants to do without funding.

"Without this league Canada's elite female hockey players simply lose the ability to train for national and international competition," Small said. "We are asking for the business community's support not only for what the league represents today but for thousands of young girls coming up through the hockey ranks who will be the Olympic medal winners of the future."

The CWHL is home for dozens of Olympians and National Team members as well as other top female Canadian players. As part of its mandate to develop elite female hockey players individuals in the league also serve as role models to young players in girls league's across the country, a number of whom will attend the fundraising event.

Nicole Pellizzari, an 11-year old player from Burlington, Ontario will address the gathering to speak about her involvement in girl's hockey and her aspirations for the future.

Also in attendance will be Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion and Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell, both long-time supporters of women's hockey.

The CWHL fundraising event will be held at the Hockey Hall of Fame, Brookfield Place, 30 Yonge Street, Toronto at 6:00pm.

ABOUT THE CANADIAN WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE

The Canadian Women's Hockey League was formally announced in September of this year. It gives Canada's elite level players a competitive environment in which to develop and maintain their skills. The goal is to build a future for women in hockey: a stable organization that leads the growth and promotion of women's hockey in Canada and helps produce world class female hockey players and role models.

For further information: Denny Allen, Denny Allen Media Relations,
Phone: (416) 992-6621, Email: denny@dennyallen.com