Halifax to host 2004 world women's hockey championship

Halifax has been awarded the right to host the 2004 world women's hockey championship.

The Nova Scotian capital beat out bids from Cape Breton, Hamilton and Vancouver to become the fourth Canadian city to host the world championships.

"Halifax has a terrific tradition of hosting successful international and national competitions, including next year's world junior championship," Bob Nicholson, president of the Canadian Hockey Association, said in a statement.

Halifax's selection is still subject to approval of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The IIHF will meet Sweden in May. The tournament is scheduled for April 2004.

Team Canada, which won gold at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, has won all seven wommen's world titles.

"On the heels on Canada's women winning gold at the Winter Olympics, women's hockey is one of the best up-and-coming sports around, and our community and province are extremely excited to get behind this event," said Fred MacGillivray, chair of the 2004 IIHF Women's World Hockey Championship.