Canada begins defence of its title against the United States when the 2013 IIHF world women's hockey championship begins April 2 at Scotiabank Place (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images).

The biggest rivals in women's hockey are set to square off on opening night at the 2013 world championship.

Hockey Canada, the Ontario Women's Hockey Association and the Ottawa host committee for the tournament today unveiled the schedule for the 2013 IIHF worlds, which are to be played April 2-9 at Scotiabank Place and the Nepean Sportsplex.

Canada and the United States, who have dominated the women's worlds since their inception in 1990 at the Ottawa Civic Centre, will face off on the opening night of the event at SBP. Canada's other preliminary games are set for April 3 (Switzerland) and April 5 (Finland).

In a new format introduced earlier this year in Vermont, the top teams from the previous year's worlds are grouped in one pool. The Swiss whipped Finland 6-2 in Burlington, Vt., earlier this year to claim the 2012 bronze, their first medal in the history of the women's worlds.

Canada has won 10 of 14 golds in women's worlds history. However, the U.S. had won four of the previous five global titles before Canada prevailed 5-4 in Vermont to end that run.

Scotiabank Place will play host to six doubleheaders at the 2013 women's worlds. Canada's games, all slated for 7:30 p.m., are the nightcap for three preliminary round twinbills. SBP is also the site for the quarter-finals (April 6), semifinals (April 8) and the medal games (April 9).

Preliminary round doubleheaders are also set for April 2, 3 and 5 at the Nepean Sportsplex, where relegation games are also to be played. Group B, which will be based at the Steve Yzerman Arena there, includes Sweden, Russia, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Ticket packages for games at Scotiabank Place are on sale now through Hockey Canada . A $50 deposit will secure your package now, with the balance due by Sept. 30.