Press Release – For immediate distribution
Centre 21.02 remembers the landmark
victory of February 21st, 2002
Montreal, February 19th, 2021 – On February 21st, 2002 at the Salt Lake Olympic Games, the Canadian women’s team went down in history by becoming for the first time Olympic gold medalist in hockey (men and women alike). Nineteen years later, the High Performance Women’s Hockey Centre wants to salute this unique sporting achievement.
“This day represents a turning point for the development of our sport. It is this epic 3-2 victory over the Americans at home that we owe this High Performance Hockey Centre. This magnificent finale allowed us to be seen and followed by millions of viewers and thus give birth to players such as Marie-Philip Poulin, Mélodie Daoust, etc. This Centre is a dream, just like that victory was on February 21st 2002, which is why this day is so dear to us” explains Danièle Sauvageau, President, CEO and coach of the Centre and then coach of the Canadian Team.
Centre 21.02 is the first center of excellence in women’s hockey and the only one in the country for elite players where the best athletes in the world train. This unique Centre opened its doors in 2019 with the financial support and commitment of its founding partners, BFL Canada and Sun Live, who also contribute to the development of our sport.
“Sun Life is proud to be a founding partner of the Centre 21.02 High Performance Hockey Centre Les Canadiennes. Over the past two decades, all across Canada, we have been proudly following the achievements of our Canadian Women’s Hockey Team. Having a dedicated training center in Montréal for Les Canadiennes promises a brilliant future for the next generation of female athletes. At Sun Life, helping people live healthier lives is central to our purpose. With this partnership, these elite players will be able to accelerate their development, and will have a lasting impact on helping young girls become more active”, said Jacques Goulet, President, Sun Life Canada.
“Barry F. Lorenzetti, President and CEO of BFL CANADA is proud to support the Centre 21.02 and their efforts towards making ice hockey more inclusive for women. The services offered by the Centre are aimed at the long-term development of athletes, coaches and all those involved. This is why we are committing to the Centre, to ensure hockey is accessible to all players, no matter their gender. When we do this, young girls from all backgrounds can go on to inspire future generations of players and build a more inclusive game.”
About the Centre 21.02
On February 21st 2002, Canada won the Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey for the first time. For millions of girls and women, it was the beginning of a bigger dream. Founded in 2019, by Danièle Sauvageau, Centre 21.02 brings together the past and the present, and is the only High Performance hockey Centre recognized by the competent authorities, namely Hockey Quebec, a member of Hockey Canada. Housed at the Verdun Auditorium in Montreal, the High Performance hockey Centre is a key partner in the long-term development effort of elite players who aspire to play for their national team and possibly within professional ranks.
In addition to its two founding partners BFL Canada and Sun Life, Centre 21.02 and its players benefit from the support of Geoff Molson of the Montreal Canadiens as well as several other strategic partners such as Hockey Quebec, Hockey Canada, INS Quebec, Ville de Verdun (auditorium) and P3F.
To follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin: Centre21.02
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Note that the official inauguration of Centre 21.02 will take place as soon as sanitary measures allow it.
For more information or to plan an interview with Mme Sauvageau:
Camille Asselin
450 602 4002
camille@Malallier.com
