The Governor General of Canada, along with his entire family, has had a long and proud association with the sport of hockey. As patrons of the Women’s World Championship, the governor general and Mrs Johnston will be involved in ceremonial events and host a reception for team leaders at Rideau Hall, the official residence of the governor general.

“We are extremely excited to have His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs Sharon Johnston join the Women’s World Championship as patrons,” Hockey Canada president and CEO Bob Nicholson said. “Given their passion for hockey, and that Canada’s capital region is hosting the best women’s hockey players in the world, we think this is a great opportunity to further promote female hockey in Ottawa and throughout Canada.”

“It is an honour for Sharon and I to be patrons of this championship, continuing this office’s link to women’s hockey, which dates back more than a century,” said Johnston. “In the late 1800s, Lord Stanley’s daughter, Isobel, became one of the first female hockey players in Canada, starting a great tradition that women across this country have followed. In my opinion, women’s hockey, which has made great strides in the last 25 years, may just be the pinnacle of hockey.”

The 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, the 15th such event, will be the last world championship prior to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Canada is the defending champion, having won the gold medal in Burlington, Vermont, last year with a dramatic 5-4 overtime win over the United States in the gold medal game. Overall, Canada has won 10 gold medals at the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship (1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2012).