CALGARY, Alta. – Canada’s National Women’s Team has announced the complete schedule for its Where the Journey Begins series presented by Imperial Oil – a 24-game schedule that features opponents from across the Alberta Midget Hockey League.

As the presenting sponsor, Imperial Oil's Where the Journey Begins series will feature Canada’s 28-player centralization roster facing-off in communities across the province against the top players in the Alberta Midget Hockey League over the next four months in preparation for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

“Imperial Oil has been closely linked to hockey in Canada for more than 80 years,” said Yan Côté, retail fuels manager for Imperial Oil. “We are excited to support our national women’s team on its journey towards the Olympic Winter Games, all while providing Midget players across Alberta with a unique hockey experience.”

A grassroots hockey legacy for Southern Alberta

Where the Journey Begins will be highlighted by nine home games for Canada’s National Women’s Team at WinSport’s Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary. Tickets for all of Canada’s home games can be purchased by clicking here.

In an effort to promote grassroots hockey, Where the Journey Begins will also leave a legacy within the Southern Alberta hockey community with local minor hockey associations joining forces to take part in a major fundraising campaign. For every $10 ticket sold to any of Team Canada’s nine home games, $7.50 will return directly back to the selling local minor hockey association.

“Our play against the Alberta Midget Hockey League is instrumental in our team’s preparation for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and wouldn’t be possible without the support of the league and its players,” said Melody Davidson, general manager of national women’s team programs. “This series is a great opportunity for fans across Alberta to be part of Team Canada’s journey to PyeongChang and the support we receive from communities across Alberta will certainly fuel our team as it moves forward.”

“The Alberta Midget Hockey League is once again looking forward to partnering with Canada’s National Women’s Team in its quest to bring home Olympic gold,” said Bobby Olynyk, vice-president, Alberta Midget Hockey League. “Each of the 18 scheduled league games, which are for two points in the standings, will be a challenge and the league is honoured and thanks Hockey Canada for making us part of this exciting event. Great memories will come out of this series for the players as they move forward in their careers.”

Action kicks off this week

Canada’s National Women’s Team will prep for Where the Journey Begins with its pre-season Icebreaker Tournament from Sept. 21-24, which features three Alberta Midget Hockey League teams. A complete schedule for the tournament can be found here.

In addition, Canada’s National Women’s Team is scheduled to compete at the 2017 4 Nations Cup from Nov. 5-12 in Tampa, Florida, and go head-to-head with its American rivals in a six-game exhibition series across multiple cities in Canada and the United States. Canada will host the Americans on Oct. 22 in Quebec City at the Videotron Centre, and will announce its final two game locations later this month.

Canada’s National Women’s Team has won four consecutive gold-medals at the Olympic Winter Games and will look to take home its fifth when the puck drops on Feb. 11, 2018, in PyeongChang.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Twitter.com/HC_Women.