WINNIPEG,MB – Team Manitoba is ready to roll at the 2011 Canada Winter Games which kick-off in Halifax, NS later this week. Featured in Week 1 will be Men's Hockey which is an Under-16 competition that will see the country's top players born in 1995. Following in Week 2 will be Women's Hockey which is an Under-18 competition hosting the country's top players born in 1993, 1994, and 1995. Week 1 competitions will run from February 11-19th, and Week 2 will compete from February 20-26th. Team Manitoba hopes to build on past success at the Games, after winning silver medals in both Men's and Women's hockey in 2007 at Whitehorse, YK.

Hockey Manitoba is pleased to announce the captains of both teams heading to Halifax. Leading the way on the ice for the U-16 Team Manitoba squad will be Paul Stoykewych (Winnipeg) of the Winnipeg Wild (Midget AAA) and U-18 Team Manitoba will be led by Kristine Grenier (St. Leon) of the Pembina Valley Hawks (Female Midget AA). The assistant captains for the U-16 team are Denis Bosc (Dufresne) and Madison Bowey (Winnipeg), meanwhile Meghan Dufault (Winnipeg), Natasha Kostenko (Fannystelle), and Tori Williams (The Pas) have been named assistant captains for the U-18 team.

U-16 Team Manitoba will practice at the MTS Iceplex on Thursday, February 10th at 9:30 AM and will depart for Halifax later that afternoon at 3:45 PM. Next week U-18 Team Manitoba willcome together on Friday, February 18th for practice at 12:30 PM also at the MTS Iceplex and will depart for Halifax on Saturday, February 19th at 10:00 AM. Players and team staff from both teams will be available for media requests after each respective practice.

Each day leading up to the Canada Winter Games there will be player profiles posted on the Team Manitoba Headquarters webpage and the Hockey Manitoba Facebook page. Hockey fans and followers are encouraged to visit the Team Manitoba Headquarters at www.hockeymanitoba.mb.ca/teammanitoba.php for team rosters, player profiles, news, and game summaries.

Hockey Manitoba is pleased to recognize Canad Inns, CCM Hockey, and Reebok Hockey as Official Partners of the Program of Excellence.