Battle of the Boarder

CALGARY, ALBERTA - Dawson Creek is the first of four communities selected to host the EnCana-sponsored Battle of the Border women's hockey tournament in February 2009.

Calgary's Oval X-Treme women's hockey team will play the United States Selects in the opening game of the tournament on Monday, February 9, 2009 at the EnCana Events Centre. While residents experience some of the finest hockey, featuring Olympians from both sides of the border, proceeds from the event will benefit two local organizations - Dawson Creek Minor Hockey and the Ark Christian Youth Centre. The tournament runs to February 13, 2009. The remaining three locations will be announced in the coming weeks.

EnCana matches monies raised through ticket, program, 50/50 and merchandise sales, to a maximum of $30,000. In the first four years of the tournament, more than $350,000 has been raised to benefit minor hockey and family-related organizations in 18 communities in Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan, where EnCana also has operations.

Team members in the Battle of the Border >tournament include Colleen Sostorics, Carla MacLeod and Gina Kingsbury of Canada, and Molly Engstrom and Chanda Gunn of the U.S. All have represented their home countries at Winter Olympic Games.

"My teammates and I love competing in this >exhilarating tournament. The level of play is always intense and is a good warm up for 2010," says Colleen Sostorics. "Dawson Creek residents could be surprised by the level of play and speed of the game in this spirited cross-border competition."

"This will be a great opportunity to come together as a community to support the two local organizations and experience great women's hockey," adds Brian Lieverse, Community Relations Advisor with EnCana.

In addition to the game, there are a number of other community-focused elements to the Battle of the Border tournament, including an autograph session, school visits, and an "X-Treme Queen for a Day" contest.

Ticket sales and further event details will be >announced in the coming weeks. For more information, visit <http://www.battleoftheborder.ca/>www.battleoftheborder.ca.

This year, for the first time, the first tournament game will be followed with the Community Sport Hero® Awards presented by EnCana, to be held Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Dawson Creek. The evening will celebrate local unsung heroes who have helped to pave the way to the podium and beyond for young B.C. athletes.

To nominate a hero for the Community Sport Hero® Awards, or for more information, visit <http://www.sport.bc.ca/>www.sport.bc.ca. As >part of EnCana's active commitment to sport and >recreation in communities where it operates, used kids' sports equipment will also be collected for distribution to those in need.