Women's hockey has taken an important momentous step as this sport continues to grow across North America.

"All elite women's hockey teams in North America will play within the NWHL this coming season," announced Susan Fennell, Commissioner of the National Women's Hockey League. "Discussions have been underway over the past several months, and clearly all players want one pinnacle Championship to strive for."

The National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) represents the highest level of women's league play in the world. The league creates an environment that recognizes the world class status of these players in a way that represents them as role models for young athletes. Most of Team Canada's players are members of the NWHL and the league attracts United States national team players as well.

"This paves the way for all teams to compete for one National Championship, the NWHL Championship Cup, currently housed in the Hockey Hall of Fame," Fennell said. "This season may just end with the first ever hoisting of the Clarkson Cup."

Last season the NWHL teams played in six cities: Brampton, Durham, Oakville, Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal (two teams). In the West, elite women's hockey was played under the Western Women's Hockey League (WWHL) umbrella in five cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Minneapolis and Regina.

The new structure will bring together Western teams, who will compete under the West Division of the National Women's Hockey League while the East and Central teams will continue under the Central Division of the NWHL. The NWHL is sanctioned and governed by the Ontario Women's Hockey Association which will be handling the administration.

"We are very pleased to see elite female hockey united under the umbrella of the NWHL," said Fran Rider, Executive Director of the OWHA. "This will provide expanded opportunities for our exceptional players to showcase their excellence while contributing to the promotion and development of the sport."

"The Western teams are thrilled to be part of the newly re-organized NWHL," said Bill Espey, President of the Western Women's Hockey League (WWHL). "We look forward to the on-ice competition and welcome the opportunity to work with our colleagues across Canada to build on the exceptional growth of the game."

For more information, visit http://www.nwhlhockey.com