Preparations for the 2009 CIS Women's Ice Hockey Championship are in full swing.

StFX University and Antigonish will be in the national spotlight later this month when the puck drops for the 2009 CIS Women’s Ice Hockey Championship at the Keating Centre from March 19-22.

Much like the work involved in putting a championship team on the ice, preparation is key to staging a successful tournament. “We are excited about showing the country what Antigonish is all about. There has been a tremendous amount of work by a lot of people to ensure this event is a success,” St.FX assistant to the athletic director and sports information director Krista McKenna, who serves as tournament convener, said.
     
Preparations began more than two years ago when StFX won the right to host, while full-scale work started last April. “Our committee has been meeting on a monthly basis and certainly more frequently lately,” McKenna said.
     
The 18-member core organizing committee includes athletic department members, other StFX staff and people from the broader community. “We probably have more than 100 volunteers, including several female minor hockey players,” McKenna said.

She added volunteer coordinator Nicole Mann has done an exemplary job. “She has been phenomenal and the response to the call for volunteers has been great.”

The list of volunteer chores includes hospitality and transportation, along with promotions, awards’ committee and selling 50/50 tickets – just to name a few. “We even need people to help with doping control,” McKenna said.
     
One of the many volunteers is a familiar face in Antigonish female hockey circles. Former X-Women coach Frank Isherwood is the honorary chair for the championship. “We are so happy to have Frank. He is an excellent choice and he will represent the tournament and our community well,” McKenna said.
     
StFX marketing and community relations coordinator Jerrett DeFazio, another member of the core committee, said the level of commitment by everyone involved has been amazing. “We could not do it without the help of the people who are giving up their time to make this a success.”
     
McKenna added the support of the corporate community has been amazing. “We have great sponsorship, which has made everything come together much more easily.”
     
One example of that commitment is the Molson Canadian Ice Patch, which will provide fans with an opportunity to enjoy a beverage while watching the game from the Keating Centre conference rooms. After the action ends on the ice, there will be live entertainment nightly. “We think people are going to enjoy that part of it. It is a great opportunity to come out and have some fun, meet people and enjoy the entire experience,” DeFazio said.
     
The first two “patch nights” feature the music of Mike Dalton and John Marchand. Details of the Sat-urday night headliner are still being ironed out. “We are going to have great entertainment on and off the ice,” DeFazio added.
     
The national tournament also features an interactive element – up close and personal access to the StFX X- Women, which includes a three-hour morning skills sessions for female minor hockey players on March 21. “We are really excited about that,” McKenna said. In the afternoon, the X-Women and X-Men players will participate in an open skate with the commu-nity.
     
“Again, it is another chance for people to enjoy the entire experience,” DeFazio said. Not only will the players be in the spotlight, but also the Antigonish community.
     
“We want the entire event to have a community feel,” McKenna said. One of the features of the three-day celebration is a variety of fun-filled promotions. “We think people are going to have a lot of fun,” DeFazio said.
     
McKenna and DeFazio said a major goal is to provide visitors with the full “Antigonish experience,” including culinary offerings with a Maritime flavour. “Of course, the focus is the action on the ice, but we also want people to have an experience of a life-time and enjoy all aspects of being part of a national championship,” McKenna said.
     
For ticket information, contact the Keating Centre Box Office at 867-3304 or drop by from 6 a.m. to midnight. Tournament passes are now on sale. Individual tickets will be available on Monday, March 16.
     
If people would like to volunteer, contact the StFX athletic department at 867-2152. 

Courtesy Corey LeBlanc, The Casket