Kelowna can keep right on wearing its red and white.

After playing host to Olympic teams from Germany and Sweden, Kelowna gets a chance to cheer on Team Canada this week. The Canadian Sledge Hockey Team arrives in Kelowna on Thursday, March 4 as part of its preparation for the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games in Vancouver.

Team Canada is scheduled to practice on Friday, 10:45 a.m. at the Capital News Centre. The two-hour ice session is open to the public and school visits.

The team will be in Kelowna March 4 through 6 for training, staying at the Delta Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort, and taking in some Kelowna sights as well.

“This is another great addition to our hosting resume in Kelowna and the fact that it features Team Canada makes it extra special for our community,” says Nancy Cameron, CEO of Tourism Kelowna.

“Team Canada’s return to Kelowna after winning the 2007 World Sledge Hockey Challenge here shows that hosting events in Kelowna can have lasting benefits.”

Coming off a gold-medal performance at the 2006 Winter Paralympic Games in Turin, Italy, Canada defeated teams from Norway, Germany and the United States to win the world title in Kelowna in the 2007 World Sledge Hockey Challenge.

Canada will open competition at the Paralympics with a preliminary round game against Italy on Saturday, March 13. Team Canada is expected to be in medal contention again at the 2010 Paralympics.

The Paralympic gold-medal game is scheduled for Saturday, March 20 at UBC Thunderbird Arena. Go Canada Go!