Markham, Ontario - 18 March 2014
The Government of Canada is committed to supporting our Canadian athletes. To this end, on March 18, 2014, Prime Minister Stephen Harper attended the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) Awards Gala in Markham, Ontario, where he met with the world’s premier women hockey players, including members of Canada’s Olympic gold medal-winning women’s team. The Prime Minister also presented the CWHL Humanitarian Award to Cassie Campbell-Pascall and wished all members of the CWHL the best of luck as they prepare for the Clarkson Cup.
The CWHL Awards Gala, which brings together athletes, league sponsors, partners and community representatives, is an annual event celebrating the accomplishments of the CWHL’s women hockey players.
During the Gala, eight awards were presented to deserving teams and individuals, including the League Chairman’s Trophy, Coach of the Year, Most Valuable Player, the Angela James Trophy, Goalie of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Defence of the Year, and the Humanitarian Award.
The CWHL was created in 2007 following the dissolution of the National Women's Hockey League. The league is comprised of the world’s premier women hockey players, including 16 members of Canada’s Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team, as well as national team members from the United States and Switzerland.
The league is made up of five teams - the Boston Blades, Brampton Thunder, Calgary Inferno, Montreal Stars and the Toronto Furies - who play a 65-game schedule that runs from November to March. The league champion will be awarded the Clarkson Cup – the Stanley Cup of women’s hockey – named after former Governor General of Canada Adrienne Clarkson. 2014 marks the sixth edition of the Clarkson Cup, which is taking place in Markham, Ontario, from March 18-22, 2014.
In 2013-14, the Government of Canada, through Sport Canada’s Sport Support Program, has invested more than $3.8 million in ice hockey, including over $1.5 million for the women’s national ice hockey team. Nearly $7 million, including $768,380 for female hockey players, was also provided through the Athlete Assistance Program to assist our winter sport athletes with training and living expenses.
