Ontario Red is chasing its sixth consecutive gold medal at the event. The team counts ten members of Canada’s National Women’s Team’s centralized roster, currently training for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, as alumnae.

The teams have been split into two groups, with each team to play three preliminary round games. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, with the gold medal game set to air on Hockey Canada’s official broadcaster TSN/RDS on Sunday, November 8.

The National Women’s Under-18 Championship is a very important event for Hockey Canada scouts, who use the tournament to help select Canada’s team for the IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship. This year, 21 of the 22 players who were part of Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team for a three-game series against the United States in Calgary in August will be on the ice in Surrey.