LENNOXVILLE, Que. – The Bishop's University Women's Hockey team announced today that they have been invited to join the Maritime Intercollegiate Women's Hockey Challenge for the upcoming season. The MIWHC includes five other teams, like the Polar Bears all intercollegiate club-level teams: the University of New Brunswick (Fredericton), Holland College of P.E.I., along with Acadia University, Cape Breton University and Université Ste-Anne, all based in Nova Scotia.

The Challenge schedule consists of six weekend tournaments, of which each team is set to play in five. The Polar Bears will host the first tournament of the season, set for November 12-13 at the W.B. Scott Arena. The Polar Bears' first away tournament is scheduled for November 26-27 at Church Point, N.S. The Bears will visit Holland College in January 2012, with tournaments at UNB and Acadia set for March.

The Polar Bears will play approximately 20 games over the course of the tournaments, which will form the bulk of their 2011-12 schedule. They had previously competed as an independent team since their departure from the QSSF women's hockey league in 1993.

"I'm really excited. I believe this is a great step forward for our program," said Maryse Richard, the Polar Bears' head coach. "It's an opportunity for the girls to have something to play for."

Richard is also looking forward to the higher calibre of competition her team will face. "This is going to be a challenge, but we will be on a more even playing field."

The Polar Bears open regular-season play at home on November 12, and the league champion will be crowned after the season's final tournament at Acadia.