BRIDGEWATER, N.S. – The 2018 Esso Cup in Bridgewater, N.S., will have a very local feel for opening night, April 22, when the tournament host, Metro Boston Pizza, faces the Atlantic Region champions during the prime-time 7 p.m. game.

Hockey Canada and tournament organizers have unveiled the full Esso Cup schedule in advance of the ticket package on-sale date of Tuesday, Oct. 31.

“The launch of ticket packages and the tournament schedule is always an exciting milestone for the event and the local host committee, since it provides the community and fans with a more concrete view of the scope of the exciting hockey action coming to Bridgewater this April,” said Dave Hysen, manager of events and properties for Hockey Canada. “We encourage fans to take advantage of the great value available through this early ticket offering.”

This year’s Esso Cup represents a partnership between Hockey Canada, Hockey Nova Scotia, and Metro Boston Pizza as five regional representatives (Atlantic, Ontario, Pacific, Quebec, West) join the hosts to compete for Canada’s National Female Midget Championship, April 22-28, 2018.

TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partners, will televise the gold-medal game, while all other games will be available via live stream at HockeyCanada.ca/EssoCup.

Historically, the event has generated more than $1 million in local economic impact, with event proceeds being directed to supporting female hockey development in the community.

Full-event ticket packages, which include all 15 preliminary-round games, two semifinals, as well as the bronze- and gold-medal games, can be purchased online at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets beginning Oct. 31 for the holiday ticket-package price of $60 (expires Jan. 3, 2018). A pre-sale opportunity is available for in-person ticket-package purchases on one day only – Saturday, Oct. 28 – at the upcoming Chicks With Sticks Tournament (Mariners Centre, Yarmouth, N.S.) and the Hockey Nova Scotia Female Peewee AA/AAA Tournament hosted by Fundy-Highland Female Hockey (Pictou County Wellness Centre, New Glasgow, N.S.).

“We’re excited to provide a pre-sale opportunity for the players and their families participating at these local female hockey events before going on sale to the general public,” said Connie Martin, chair of the 2018 Esso Cup host organizing committee. “We’ve had tremendous support to-date from Lunenburg County and the female hockey community across Nova Scotia, and we look forward to welcoming Canada’s best female midget hockey teams in April.”

As with other Hockey Canada national championships, the net proceeds from all ticket sales remain in the host-community of Bridgewater to assist with hockey programs that encourage the growth of the game in Lunenburg County and surrounding community.

For more information on the 2018 Esso Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca/EssoCup, or follow along via social media on Facebook or Twitter.