Burnaby was named the first-ever host city from B.C. for the fifth annual Esso Cup national female ice hockey championships.
Hockey Canada, in partnership with B.C. Hockey and the B.C. Hockey female midget AAA league, made the announcement on Tuesday. The national championship will take place from April 21-27 in 2013.
The Fraser Valley Phantom, which competes in the female midget AAA league, will serve as the host team for the Esso Cup at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre.
"This event will showcase some of the best women's hockey in the country, including Fraser Valley Phantom players from our own backyard, and will also help grow and strengthen the female game across our province," said B.C. Hockey president Wilf Liefke in a prepared release.
The 2013 Esso Cup will feature five regional champions from the Pacific, West, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic regions, in addition to the Phantom.
The gold-medal game will be broadcast on TSN.
