Women’s worlds
Team prepares for 2020 IIHF World Championship
Team Germany women’s hockey team to train on Pictou County ice in March.
Pictou County will host Germany’s national women’s hockey team before the world championships in April. Team Germany will be spending the week of March 23-29 in Pictou County to prepare for the 2020 IIHF Women’s World Championship. This is an annual tournament consisting of the world’s top 10 women’s hockey countries. The 2020 Women’s World Championship tournament will be played at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax and the Rath Eastlink Community Centre in Truro March 31April 10. During its time in the area, Team Germany will practice out of the Pictou County Wellness Centre once a day from 10 a.m. to noon. Practices will be open to spectators. An exhibition game will be held on March 25 and possibly March 27. A more detailed schedule of events and volunteer opportunities will be available in the first week of March. “This is an exciting and new opportunity for Pictou County,” said Cindy MacKinnon of Destination Eastern and Northumberland Shores. “We will have a national level women’s hockey team living and practicing here, as they prepare for some of the biggest games of their season. We are continuing to work on finalizing plans that will allow the community to welcome the team and raise awareness about the female program.” The PCWC will be providing on-ice and in-house services to the team throughout the week. This will include allotting ice time for games and practices as well as making sure it has access to gym facilities, laundry, its own dressing room, and community rooms if needed. “Hosting a female camp in Pictou County is something new for the Wellness Centre, and it allows us to prove once again that this is a world-class facility that can host national events,” said Chad McDavid, marketing, advertising, and brand communications officer of the PCWC. This is also an excellent opportunity for children and adults to learn more about the female hockey game that is continuing to grow locally, provincially, and nationally. More information about Team Germany’s schedule while in Pictou County will be released in midMarch. Tickets for the IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship can be ordered at https://www.iihf. com/en/events/2020/ww/ static/13767/tickets.